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The
Robert E. Gross
Colle6i:Ion
A Memorial to the Founder
of the
Business Administration Library
Los Angeles
- VENEGAS (Miguel) A Natural and Civil History of Californ
iccurate Description of that Country, Its Soil, Mountains, Harbo
ind Seas ; its Animals, Vegetables, Minerals, and famous Fishei
.ustoms of the Inhabitants, their Religion, Government, and Mann
heir Conversion to the Christian Religion by the missionary Jesu
Accounts of the several Voyages and Attempts made for settling Ca
ictual Surveys of that Country, its Gulf, and Coast of the Sout
rom the original Spanish . . ., first edition in English, with a fo
ind 4 engraved plates, pages (19), 455 ; (7), 387, 2 vols., 8vo, contem
abets, 1759
Sabin 98845. Not in Kress. The //i-s/ory was compiled from the manuscript
darcos Burnel, and it extends from the earliest discoveries and accounts oi
•nd expeditions, the attempts made for its settlement, and the surveys carried
ive valuable appendices in the fourth part: Gomara's description of the outwa
'izcamo s narrative of his voyage of 1602 for surveying the western coast; Cou
31- surveying the eastern coast; Woods Rogers' description of California; and c.x
elating to California from .Anson's circumnavigation of 1740.
II
^o//?r// o/ (}r/f/o?-/ff
/')rn^<,'/,/^cr/<'1WJ.
» llr/t (>/ ( (r/f/f>/'/ie<i ,
A NATURAL and CIVIL
HISTORY
O F
CALIFORNIA:
CONTAINING
An accurate Defcription of that Country,
Its Soil, Mountains, Harbours, Lakes, Rivers,
and Seas; its Animals, Vegetables, Minerals,
and famous Filhery for Pearls.
THE
Customs of the Inhabitants,
Their Religion, Government, and Manner of Living,
before their Converfion to the Chriftian Religion by
the miffionary Jefuits.
TOGETHER WITH
Accounts of the feveral Voyages and Attempts made for
fettling California, and taking aftual Survej's of that
Country, its Gulf, and Coaft of the South-Sea.
ILLUSTRATED WITH
Copper Plates, and an accurate Map of the Country and
the adjacent Seas.
Tranflated from the original Spanifh of Miguel Vkne-
GAs, a Mexican Jefuil, publifhed at Madrid 1758.
I N T W O VOLUMES,
' Y Q L L
t
e ■ ■'■ ' „ ■ . , .1 . I
LONDON:
Printed for James Rivington and James Fletcher, ^
at the Oxford Theatre, in Pater-Noller-Row. 1759.
PREFACE,
THE country of California, taking
that denomination in its moil exten-
five fenfe, has been long difcovered ; not-
withilanding which, it was till lately,
but very imperfectly knov/n. Other na-
tions have vifited its coafts as well as the
Spaniards ; but as they only touched upon
them, a true and full defcription of this
vaft region could be expelled from the
Spaniards alone. The firft accounts pub^
lifhed by them, reprefented it truly, and
as it is, a peninfula -, but upon the autho-
rity of a Spanifh chart, found accidentally
by the Dutch, and of the authenticity of
which, there never were, or indeed could
t>e, any proofs obtained, an opinion pre^
vailed, that California was an iiland, and
the contrary aflertion was treated even by
the ableft geographers, as a vulgar error^
The famous Delifle very judicioufly con^
tro verted this notion, and veiy ably as
Vv'ell as very ingenioufly, fhewed that there
A Z werQ
PREFACE.
were not lights fufficient at the time he
wrote for the decifion of the point. In
this indeterminate ftate, the thing flood
till the beginning of the prefent century,
when father Kino publifhed his difcovery,
founded on his pailage by land, from New
Mexico into Cahfornia; by which it ap^
peared that the Vermillion fea was no
more than a guif or bay, though of a
large extent, and that California was
really a peninfula, as the earlier Spanifh
v/riters had defcribed it. Thus we fee that
old opinions, niore efpecially when they
are grounded on matters of fa6i:, are net
to be haftily rejected, that inquifitive and
even judicious nien are capable of being
milled j and that the authority of actual
difcovererSj in queftions of this fort, is
lingly to be regarded.
In confequence of its being fo imper^
fe6i:ly examined, feveral other contradic-
tions, or at ieafr feemlng contradidtions,
have been advanced concerning it. There
are relations, which make the ccafls of
California intolerable, from the piercing
cold. There are again accounts, which fay
thefe coafts are infupportably hot. Some
f eprefent it as a region llerile, void of wa^
ter,
PREFACE.
ter, and not only unimproved, but i.inim^
proveable chiefly from this defect. Others
ipeak of it, as fruitful, pleafant, and ha-
ving very fine rivers. Complaints are
made of its fhores, as difficult and dan-
gerous, embarrafled with rocks and fhoals,
and without fo much as tolerable ports.
In oppofition to thefe, we find it celebrated
for a fine beautiful country towards the
fea, into which feveral large rivers fall, at
the entrance of which are many large
and fertile ifiands, and both in them and
the continent, feveral fafe and very commo-
dious havens. The variations are as great,
in reference to the worth, as in regard to
the face of this extenfive peninfula • if we
rely on fome writers, it is a poor barren
delpicable tra6l, which fcarce deferves the
prote(5t:ion it has met with. Yet as good
judges, and who had equal opportanities
of being acquainted with it, alledge, that
it is capable of various kinds of cultivation,
that there are inconteflible m.arks of its
containing rich mines, and that there is a
profitable pearl fiihery upon the coaft.
The inhabitants alfo have been painted in
the mofi di'fferent colours, as ignorant,
brutiih, and irreclaimable by fome, and
A 2 on
PREFACE.
on the contrary, as docile, courteous, and
hofpitable, by others. As applied to dif-
ferent places, and under different circum-
fiances, tliere is little of falfhood in any
of thefe accounts, but taken generally there
is as little in them of truth.
But the principal point that has been
always had in view, with refpe61: to this
country, is its boundary towards the north,
which has never yet been afcertained.
There has been mention made of a coun-
try, and of a flrait of Anian, which is
fuppofed to feparate it from Afia. Others
have affirmed, that California continually
ilretching to the north weft, approached
very near to the north eaft of Tartary,
and that the ftraits of Anian were to be
fought on that fide. Some again have af-
firmed, thefe ftraits are altogether imagi-
nary, and have talked of proofs, founded
on fa6ls, that Indians, converted to the
chriftian faith by the Spaniards, have paf^
fed by land into China, the truth of which
however, has been defcrvedly queftioned.
Many think there is an open fea between
the north eaft of Afia, and the north weft
of America, ■ while others are perfuaded,
that this is only true in part, and that
though
PREFACE.
ifiough there may be a fea, yet that this
fea has in it a multitude of illands of
different fizes. All thefe, however, are no
better than conjectures, upon which no
great flrefs is to be laid, and therefore we
mufl wait for the folution of the queftlon,
till the fame fpirit of difcovery that brought
us firft acquainted with the Indies and
with America, reveals to us, with equal
certainty, whether it is fea or land, or a
mixture of both, that intervenes between
thofe two mighty continents.
It is requifite to obferve, that this is far
from being a matter of idle fpecuiation, fo
far from it, there are very few difquifitions
that can be juftly ftiled of greater confe-
quence j as rational beings, it concerns us
to have a perfe6l and complete notion of
the globe which we inhabit, and we fee
that in this refpe6l, providence has very
wifely given the Ipur of curiofity, to the
purfuit of what is our real intereft. As
die fubje6ls of a maritime povrer, v/e have
the greater concern in it, fince every dif-
covery of this kind mufl affe6l our navi^
gation or commerce, nearly or remotely^
But with refpe<5l to this before us, it is of
the utmofl importance, fmce all our at-
A 4 * tempts
P R E F A C E.
tempts for the finding a north weft paiTage,
have been only in other words, finding a
new rout to the coafls of Cahfornia,
which if we are ever. happy enough to find,
will open to us a ihort way, as well to a
new Indies as to the old. Now the furefl
means of making fuch a difcovery effectu-
ally, is by proceeding from the known to
the unknown j and therefore the firil plain,
proper, and natural flep, is to attain, a
clear and exa6l account of California, fo
far as it is difcovered, which we could, only
hope from the Spaniards, and which this
author has given us in the fulleft, plainefl,
and moil accurate method that we could
pofiibly defire. This is the fole objeft,
this is the true merit of the book, which
though not a work of amufement and en-
tertainment, is full of infi:ru6lion and
information, and in that light, no doubt,
will be a mofl acceptable prefent to the
publlck, as v/ill fufficiently appear, if we
confider the plan of this writer's per-
formance.
He divides his treatife into four parts.
In the firflr, lie difcourfes of the name,
fit^aticn, and extent of California, that
is, taking it in the Rrict knk^ for fo much
of
PREFACE.
of this peninfula, as the Spaniards have
hitherto reduced. He gives us an account
of the gulf, its coafts, and iflands. He
enlarges upon the foil and climate, the
natural hiftory, the pearl fifhery, and the
manna of this country, which is a new
difcovery. Then follows a very difi:in6l
and curious detail of the nations and
languages, the tempers and manners of
the Californians, with their policy in peace
and war, and laftly, he treats of their
religion j in refpe6l to which he obferves,
that thofe who reiided on the continent,
were, v\^hen the Spaniards found them,
entirely free from any idolatrous notions,
had few or no ceremonies, and yet had
forne^ very fmgular Ipeculative opinions,
but that it was otherwife in the iflands,
where, through the arts and frauds of a
particular race of men, the people weic
grievoufly enthralled in fuperftitious fia-
very.
The fecond part contains the lililory of
California, from the time of its firil dif-
covery, to the fending thither the jefuits.
This difcovery was made by order of the
famous Hernan Cortes, who went thither
in perfon in 1536, and landing in the
gulf.
PREFACE.
gulf, beftowed upon it his own namej
or rather the Spaniards have Unce called it
in honour of that great captain, Mar de
Cortes, as well as the VermilHon fea, or
the gulf of California. Our author
traces very exa6tly the feveral attempts
that were made from time to time, for
obtaining a more perfeft knowledge of
the extent and produce of this peninfula,
the different projefts formed for this pur-
pofe, both in Old and in New Spain ; their
repeated difappointments, and the caufcs
of thofe difappointments, interfperfed
with many judicious and fenfible remarks,
which fhew the extreme difficulty of ex-
ecuting any great defign, the eondu6l of
which depends upon the approbation,
orders, and inftmftions, that are to come
from a country at a great diftance.
The third part comprehends the reduc-r
tion of California by the jefuits, and their
tranfa6lions to the prefent time. He in-
forms us that the court of Spain, and its
viceroys in the Indies, tired out with a
multitude of fruitlefs, expenfive, and te-
dious expeditions, had abandoned all fur-
ther thoughts cf this matter, fo that the
profecution of it was intirely owing to
father
PREFACE.
father Eufebio Francifco Kino, who, being
lent as miflionary into the adjacent pro-
vince of Sonora, formed a refolution of
trying to penetrate into this deferted coun-
try from thence. The firfl miiiionary of
this order however, who pafled over into
this region, was father Sah^a-Tierra in
1697, and a few years after father Kino
penetrated, according to his original de-
iign, into Cahfornia by land, and became
thereby afTured, as we have before obferved,
that it was not an iiland but a peninlixla.
The jefuits from this time down to the
prefent, have had the fole direction of
affairs, civil as well as ecclenaflical, in
California, and have profecuted their dil-
coveries, converted tlie Indians, made
fmall fettlements, cultivated fome fpots of
ground near them, and with great dili-
gence and perfeverance, have brought
fome little vineyards to fuch perfection, as
to produce v/mo not inferior to that of
Europe. Our author gives a particular,
precife, and diftin61: account cf all thefe
tranfaftions, fo that it may be truly faid,
that though the hiftory of this pait of the
VvTorld is not big with many great events,
yet we have it as clearly and as corred:ly
told.
P R E F A C E,
told, as we can pofTibly defire. It Is very
, jQngular in its nature, and affords us a
very complete view of the policy, of the
order, and of the method of reducing
nations, to become nominal fubje(5ls of
the crown of Spain, and really fo to them-
felves. It exhibits likewife the true no-
tions, which induce the Spanifli govern-
ment to make ufe of the fathers in this
way, and to permit them to make thofe
acquifitions by art, which themfelves had
inefFe6lually attempted by force. The
author interfperfes very free rcfle6lion9,
not only on the errors of particular admi-
niftrations ; but on the capital, and if we
may fo fpeak, conftitutional faults' in the
Spanifh fyftem ; in confequence of which,
fome of their richeft fettlements are bur-
denfome, and the great wealth in the
bowels of the country is made the caufe
of the mifery and poverty of its inhabi-
tants. Refledlions, which the judicious
reader will perufevv^ith profit and pleafure.
The fourth and laft part contains
fome additional pieces, referred to in tlie
body of the work. Among thefe, is the
famous voyage of captain Sebaflian Viz-
caino, m 1602, in which there is a very.
curious
PREFACE.
cu/ious and particular account of the wefc
coall of California J this is followed by a
defcription of the eaft coaft, from a voyage
made in the year 1746. Then come ex-
trafts of captain Woods PvOgers and lord
Anfon's voyages, with the author's remarks
upon them, more efpecially on the latter,
in which he undertakes to controvert fe-
veral matters of fa6l, in refpe61: to which,
the writer of that w^ork, he fays, was
jnifmformed 3 in this, as indeed throughout
the whole book, the author ihews himfelf
a zealous fubje6l of the crown of Spain,
and an avowed apologif!: for the jefiiits.
jHe is, however, a writer of a very diffe-
rent kind, from tlie reft of their panegy-
rifts. He does not run out, as commonly
they do, into long flights of high-flown
oratory, but delivers every thing in a grave
uniform ftile, very fuitable to this kind of
hiftory, is very careful in pointing out his
authorities, regular in the detection of
fafts, and in refpedf to thefe, (thofe re-
garding religion excepted) fhews himfelf
equally judicious and cautious, and alike
free from prejudice and credulity. He
feems to be fenlible that his fubjeft did not
^•equire, and without vifible impropriety,
could
PREFACE.
could not admit many ornaments, inilead
therefore of thefe, he fometimes, but not
vei*y frequently, inierts prudential and
political obfen^ations, relying, however,
chiefly on exa6lners and veracity.
There are, notwi thflanding, in the fol-
lowing iheets, not only many new and curi-
ous, but fome very ftriking and furprifmg,
fome deep and interelling points, v/hich
cannot fail of awakening the attention of
the Britifli reader. He will here difcern
that the Spaniards are in the fame condi-
tion with fome other nations, they are not
unacquainted with the nature of thofe
political maladies, which gradually con-
fume them, or ignorant of effedlual
remedies, though they want the power to
apply them. He will fee that Alberoni's
fyflem extended even to California, and
that by embracing the commerce of the
Eaft, as well as the Weft-Indies, he meant
to reftore the vigour of the Spanifh mo-
narchy, by reviving a regular circulation
through all its mxembers. He will learn
that the Spaniards have a well grounded
fear of being invaded, even in thefe di-
flant parts, by a nation, from whom in
the judgment of the mofl penetrating
-'■^*- politician.
PREFACE.
politician, they would have been thought,
half a century ago, in no greater danger
than from the inhabitants, if there be
any, in the moon. He will be informed,
that the difcovery of a north-weft palTage,
isfar lefs problematical there, in the opinion
of thofe, who, from their fituation, are the
ableft judges, than it is here, and that the
dread of feeing the Englifh form an efta-
blifhment in the remoter parts of this
country, and conne6ling it with their
other colonies, is fo far from being thought
an impoffible, that it is held by thofe v/ho
have the beft means of knowing, to be a
very probable thing. Laflly, he will fee
it made plain to a demonftration, that
while the Spaniards have the hard tafk
impofed on them, of fettling, improving,
and fortifying the very wildeft, and worft
parts of this country j the Englifh, if they
fliould ever think of making any attempt,
may feat thcmJelves in a pleafant climate,
fruitful foil, and in regions well peopled,
from whence they may, with certainty,
cornmand the moft valuable branches of
commerce that have been hitherto disco-
vered, with the fairefr profpe6l of adding
fpeedily to thefe, many others, and tliole
perhaps yet more profitable than are
Jiithertp unknov/n.
CONTENTS
O F T H E
t.
FIRST VOLUME.
O
PART I.
S E C T. I.
F the name, fituation, and extent of Ca-
lifornia, page I— 13.
SECT. II.
Account of the gulf of CaUfornIa, its coafls
and iflandsi p. 13 — 24.
SECT. III.
Defcription of the country of California, with
an account of its foil.. p. 24 — 31.
SECT. IV.
Of the bcafts, birds, fifhes, infeds, fhells,
trees, plants, fruits, minerals, and pearls
found in California and its feas. p.3i — 52.
SECT. V.
Of- the different nations and languages of Ca-
-Irforma. p. 52 — 6^,
SECT.
CONTENTS.
SECT. VI.
Of the temper and manners of the Californians,
and of their government in peace and war.
SECT. VII.
Of the ancient religions of the Californians.
p. 86^ — III.
PART JL
SECT I.
The firft accounts of the Pacifick ocean, or
South-fea. p. iii — 125.
SECT. II.
Firft difcovery of California and voyages thi-
ther, in the time of Hernan Cortes.
p. 125—142.
S E C T. III.
Of the expeditions to California to the year
1600. p. 142 — 168.
SECT IV.
A remarkable warrant of Philip III. and other
expeditions to California, till the reign of
Philip IV. . p, 168—195.
SECT. V.
The laft expedition to California, till the end
of the reign of Charles II. p. 19^ — 216.
Vol. I. a PART
C^ONTEKtS.
PART IIL
S E C T. I.
Redudion of California by the jefuits, and
their tranfadtions to the prefent time •, firft
entrance intoCalifornia, by father Juan Maria
de Salva-Tierra i6^y. p. 215 — 231.
SECT. II.
Various incidents, till the entrance of father
Francis Maria Piccolo into California.
p. 231 — ^248.
SECT. III.
Tranfadions of vhe two firft years, with the
attempts to enter the inward part of Cali-
fornia, till the fettlement of the fecond
mifTion of St. Xavier. p. 248—265.
SECT. IV.
The difficulties which happened at the com-
mencement of the prefent century, and the
unfortunate management of the affairs of
the miflion in Mexico. p. 265-— 282.
SECT. V.
Attempts and voyages for difcovering the
junction of California with the continent of
New Spain ; a fhort narrative of the defigns
and
C -d N t E K t S. '
and heroick labours of father Francifco Kino,
in the miflions of Sonora and Pimeria ; with
an account of them, p. 282 — 312.
SECT. VI.
New refolutions in California, and the progrefs
of its miflions till the end of the year 1703.
SECT. VII.
His majefty's gracious orders concerning the
miflion, its great difficulties and diflreffes in
the year 1704, both in California and Mexi-
co ; father Salva-Tierra appointed provincial
of New-Spain. P'337 — 352.
SECT. VIII.
Father Salva-Tierra's farther fervlces to Cali-
fornia*, his majefty's favours ; obftacles in
Mexico againft his miflion j he vifits it in
the quality of provincial. p. 352 — 381.
S E C T. IX.
The two miflions of San Juan Baptifl:a Ligui,
and of Santa Rofalia Mulege ; Progrefs of
the others, and a new furvey of the coafl: of
the South-fea. 381 — 399.
SECT. X.
Father Salva-Tierra returns to California ; his
labours there. The miflion of San Jofeph
de
CONTENTS.
de Comonda, founded by father Mayorga ;
the milTion greatly fuffers by the lofs of the
barks, and the fhipwreck of fathers Guillen
and Guifcij the lattejr of which was drowned.
P- 399—425!
S E C T. XI.
Father Salva-Tierra eftabliflies a fpirltual and
civil government for the miflipnaries of Ca-
lifornia, and of the Indians, p. 425 — 438.
SECT. XII.
Account of the government eflablifhed by fa-
ther Salva-Tierra, in the royal garrifon, and
among the foldiers, veflels, and feamen, be-
longing to California, as likewife that efta'
blilhed by his advice in the pearl fifliery.
p. 438—45^'
A
NATURAL and CI VI L
HISTORY
O F
CALIFORNIA.
PART L
Defcription of California, with
an account of its inhabitants.
SECT. L
Of the Name, Situation, and Extent of
California.
TH E country which we are going to de-
fcribe, is diftinguifhed in the maps
by three diiFerent names -, Cahfornia,
New Albion, and the Iflas CaroUnas : but
the mod ancient is that of California, being
found in Bernal Diaz del Caftillo, an officer
who ferved under the famous Cortez, in the
conqueft of Mexico, and who publifhed a
hiftory of that aftonifhing expedition. It
muft luowever be obfcrved that the name Cali-
VoL. I, B fornia
2 HISTORY OF
fornia Is, by this gentleman, limited to one
fingle bay. It acquired the name of New-
Albion, from the famous Englifli admiral fir
Francis Drake, who, in the year 1577, being
then on his fecond voyage round the world,
touched at this country. New Albion implies
the fame as New England, or New Britain,
Albion being the ancient name of the ifland we
now call England. The name Iflas Carolinas
was not given to this country till near a
century after, in honour of Charles II. of Spain,
when, by his order, the conqueft of California^
then thought an ifland, and the others adjacent,
were undertaken with a force equal to the cn-
terprize. This name is ufed by father Henry
Scherera, a German jefuit, in his new Atlas i by
M. deFer, in a fmall Atlas of theSpanilh domi-
nions, and which he prefented to king Philip V.
on his acceffion to the throne i and alfo by other
geographers, in their Atlafes and particular
maps. But that famous expedition being ren-
dered abortive, the name has not generally
prevailed.
The name by which this country is at pre-
fent known, is that of California, an appella-
tion given to it at its firfl difcovery. Some
ufe the name in the plural number, calling it
the Californias, intending probably to include
that part thought the principal ifland and
the
CALIFORNIA. ^
the largefl: in the world, together with a mul-
titude of lefler iflands which lurround it on all
fides. But it being now known, that this coun-
try is no ifland, but joined to the continent of
America, as we fhall prefently fhew, propriety
requires, that the word Ihould be ufed only
in the fingular number, in conformity with the
military hiflorian above-mentioned.
I could wiih to gratify the reader with the
etymology and true origin of a name which
from the oddnefs of its found, the real misfor-
tunes which the firft difcoverers met with in
that country, and the great riches it is fup-
pofed to contain, has greatly excited the curi-
ofityof the inhabitants both of New Spain and
Europe. But in none of the various dialedts of
the natives could the miffionaries find the
Jeaft traces of fuch a name being given either
to the country, or even to any harbour, bay,
or fmall portion of it. Nor can I fubfcribe to
the etymology of fome writers, who fuppofe
this name to have been given it by the Spa-
niards, on then- feeling an unufual heat at their
firft landing here, and thence called the coun-
try California, a compound of the tvvo Latin
words calida fornax, a hot furnace. I believe
few will think our adventurers could boaft of
fo much literature ; for tho' Del Caftillo praifes
Cortez for his being not only a good humanift,
B 2 but
4 H I S T O R Y O F
but alfo an excellent poer, and had taken the
degree of bachelor of laws j we do not find
that either he or his captains took this method
in giving names to their conquefts. I am there-
fore inclined to think that this name owed its
origin to feme accident : pofTibly to fomc
words fpoken by the Indians, and mifunder-
ftood by the Spaniards •, as happened, accord-
ing to a very learned American, in the name-
ing of Peru •, and alfo, as we lliall fhortly
flicw, in giving name to the nation of Guay-
cura.
From the name, let us proceed to the fitu-
ation. For the better underftanding of which,
I fuppofe America to be divided into two
parts, South and North ; the former reaching
from the ifthmus of Panama to Cape Horn,
which vaft country is pofTcfTed by his catholick
majePty, and divided into two vice royalties,
namtly Peru and Santa Fe -, the latter be-
ginning from the fame ifthmus, and ex-
tending to the North Pole. But in the lat-
ter, all the Spanifli pofTefiions are under
the fingle vice- royalty of Mexico, which
is divided into the four following audiences ;
that of the illand of St. Domingo, or Ida
Efpanola, that of Mexico, that of Guadalax-
ara, and that of Guaeimala. Befides thefcj
there is alfo that of the Philippine iflands, the
govern-
CALIFORNIA. 5
S-overnrnent of which is alfo within the vice-
royalty of New Spain, tho' the idands them-
felves are fo far from being a part of North
Ameria, that they lie in Afia, near the coall o'^
China.
But we lliall only mention the audience of
Guadalaxara, on which depend all the coun-
tries northward of the province of that name,
and alfo fome tracks on the weft of Mexico .-,
that is, all the northern provinces of this parr
of America, one of which is California, the
fubjed: of this treatife.
The celebrated geographer John Bieau *,
who is followed by fcveral others, compre-
hends, under the name of California, thofeim-
menfe tracks lying well of New Spain and New
Galicia : and comprehended betv/een the nor-
thern parts of South America, and th^t ftreights
of Anian : and thus under tlie name of Cali-
fornia he comprehends New Mexico, the Apa-
ches and others. But he is certainly mifta-
ken in giving fuch an extent to California.
This province, properly fpeaking, is apeninfula
* Johannes Bleau, America, qux efl geop;raphi:e Blavl-
anic, pars qujnta, liber unus, voluinen und&qiiiuini,
(Amfterlscdami 1662.) pag. 70.
" California comniuniter dicitur, quidqnIJ terrarura
*' Novae Hi rpanise, atque Nova; Galk^cia; ad occidcntem
*' objicitur, quie iane latiijlni^ patent, & ad cxtremos
*' Americas mendionalis tcrmiuob cc frctum, cuod vi l-o
** Ar.ian vocant, pertinent.
B 1 iii
6 II I S T O R Y O F
in the moft northern part of America, hitherto
difcovered by the Spaniards, in the Pacifick
ocean, or the South Tea-, or a largepoint of land
jffuing from the N. coafts of America, and ex-
tending to the fouth-eaft, being wafiied on both
fides by the Pacilickfea, beyond the tropick; fo
that the fouth point of it lies in the Torrid Zone,
and nearly oppofite to the province of Guada-
laxara, on which it depends. On this point is the
famous cape de San Lucas ; as likewife that
de la Porfia, betwixt which is formed the bay
of St. Barnabas. The weftern coaft of Cali-
fornia runs to the northward, is wafhed by the
Pacifick ocean above mentioned, and extends
2 2 degrees to Cape Blanco de San Sebaftian ;
and the eaftern or inward coaft of California,
pn an accurate examination, appears to reach
lo degrees, till it meets with the great river
Colorado. Between thefe two coafts is the
peninfula, or the neck of land called California;
and the arm of the fea between the eaftern
coaft of the peninfula and the continent, is
called the gulf, or bay of California, which,
in fome places 60, in fome 50, and in fome
40 leagues broad, between cape San Lucas
and the Rio Colorado, difcharges its waters
into this gulf, where both the coafts unite, as
Vi'e ftiall afterwards more particularly oblerve.
CALIFORNIA. 7
Thus California is a part of N. America,
wafhed on the eaft by a g«lf of the fame
name ; and on the weft by the Pacifick, or
South fea ; lying within the three limits al-
ready mentioned, Cape de San Lucas, the ri-
ver Colorado, and Cape Blanco de San Se-
baftian.
I have mentioned Cape San Sebaftian, as the
fartheft limit of California on its weftern
coaft ; not that the coaft aftualJy terminates
there; it unqueftlonably ftretches itfelf much
farther to the northward : but becaufe we have
little or no knowledge, either of the coaft it-
felf beyond that cape, the fea to the weftward
of it, or the immenfe countries to the eaft;
and rather than amufe the reader with the un-
certain accounts given us of both, I thought
proper to affign a known limit; and fuch is th^e
above-mentioned cape.
As to its geographical fituation, there would
be nothing left to defire, were the latitudes
and longitudes of the above three limits well
afcertained. But except the iefuits, very few
have ftaid in California a fufficient time foi"
making fuch obfervation^ ; whi£h, if per-
formed with fufficient accuracy, efpecially
thofe relating to the longitude, require time,
inftruments, and leifure. Among the mifli-
^nary jefuits there have been, and ftill are,
B 4 many
8 II I S T O R Y O F
many who might have performed them with
a precifion, fufficient to have given fatisfadi-
on, even to the curiofity of our age. But
thefe, befides other diftrefles, labour under the
fame want of matliematical inftruments, as is
feen in other countries lefs fequeftrated from
the commerce of the world. This is one
of the particulars which many milTionaries,
brought up in the bofom of fcience and ufe-
ful arts, have to offer as a facrifice to their
Creator in this folitude ; and it is very unjuft
to reproach them with what enhances their
merit : and much more fo, if they can re-
criminate upon us, that our ignorance is in-
cxcufable ; it being owing to the neglefl of
thefe very Europeans who make fuch loud
complaints. But till we have the comfort of
feeing the approach of that happy time, when
we {hall no longer vex each other with com-
plaints of this nature, we muft defer the ac-
curate determination of the above limits ; for
I muft confefs that I cannot offer any thing
with certainty: I fliall not however, from
a fear of committing feme fmall error, for-
bear faying fomething, which at leaft may
afibid room for corredion and amendments.
And here I Oiall mention the mod modern
difccv:rries which have come to my knowledge,
omitting thofc made in more diftant times,
as
CALIFORNIA. 9
as their authority has been invalidated by later
obfervations.
The latitudes being more eafily determined,
the generality of geographers, navigators, and
particular narratives agree, that San Lucas
lies in 22 degr. 32 min, of N. latitude. The
river Colorado in 32 degr. 30 min. and Cape
Blanco de San Sebaftian in 43 degr. 30 min.
of the fame latitude. Some indeed differ a
little in their accounts of the latitudes of thefe
three places ; and it were to be v/ifhcd, that
obfervations could be made with that accuracy
the fubjecl deferves -, but in fettling the lon-
gitudes of thefe three points, there is an afto-
nifliing difference. A fkilful miffionary of Ca-
lifornia fays, in his narrative, that Cape San Lu-
cas lies in 145 deg.W. longitude from the com-
mon meridian of the iQe of Ferro, which is the
fame as in 215 deg. longitude reckoning from
theE. in the ufual manner. This undoubtedly
is a miftake of the amafiuenfis •, for the fartheft
eaflern point of Siberia, being in 205 deg. E.
longitude, * cobiputed from the fame meridian,
the confequence would be that the difference be-
tween the meridian, paffing through the faid
point of Siberia, and that of Cape San Lucas,
• This is tbe longitude afligned to the faid cape by capt.
IJeerings, whom the czar, Peter the great, fent on a voyage
\Q diicover the communication of Afia with America.
would
lo H I S T O R Y O F
would be but lo degrees, which is quite incre-
dible, or to fpeak more properly, impoflible.
On the contrary, Mexico and Acapulco, which
are nearly under the fame meridian, are ufually
placed in 274 deg. from the common meridian.
This is confirmed in the chart of the coafts of
the South fea, by that celebrated fea officer
don George Juan, who places Acapulco in
105 deg. W. longitude from the meridian of the
royal obfervatory at Paris, which is equal to
275 deg. longitude from the common meridian.
According to this, Mexico and Acapulco would
not be above 60 de?;. longitude from Cape San
Lucas, which is doubclefs an error. Father
Eufebio Francifco Kino, who, befides being a
miflionary thirty years in thcfe countries, was
an eminent mathematician, places the mouth
of the river Colorado in 250 deg. longitude.
And this is afligned in general to Califormia
by don Jofeph Antonio de Villa Senor y Sanchez,
though, on comparing this with the latitude,
which he there fets down, it will appear to be
meant of the neighbourhood of Cape San Lur
cas. Monfieur de Fer alfo places in 250 deg.
what he calls the great river of Coral, which
I think can be no other than the Colorado.
The fame geographer places Cape San Lucas
254 deg. longitude, and Cape Mendocino in
^33-
Captain
i
CALIFORNIA. ii
Captain Woods Rogers places Cape San Lu-
cas, in 1 14 deg.W. longitude from the meridian
of London, which is the fame as 134 from the
common meridian. In the Acapulco fhip
taken by the Enghfli, admiral Anfon, was
found a map of the South fea, in which Cape
San Lucas was placed in 23 deg. E. longitude,
the firft meridian being that pafllng through the
mouth of the river San Bernardino, in the
Philippine iflands ; the harbour of Acapulco
in 134 deg. from the fame, according to which
there is only 12 deg. difference between Aca-
pulco and San Lucas ; and cape San Lucas
muft He in 263 deg. longitude. The famous
geographer monfieur d'Anville differs 10 deg. in
the longitude of the river Colorado, placing it
from farther Kino, in 1 00 deg. W. longitude
from the common meridian of Ferro i that is 2 60
of longitude, according to the common method
of computation. The fame geographer places
Cape San Lucas betwixt 94 and 95 deg. of the
fame W. longitude, which anfwers to betwixt
265 and 266 of longitude from the fame meri-
dian. Mr. Henry Ellis, an Englifh gentleman,
one of the adventurers, who lately failed from
London, in fearch of a north paffage to the
South fea, by the way of Hudfon's-bay,
places Cape Blanco near Mendocino, in 124
degrees W. longitude from London, which is
equaj
ir H I S T O R Y O F
equal to 144 of the common long. Monfienr
Bellin, an engineer in the French navy,
lays down Cape San Lucas in 265 degrees
of longitude, Cape Mendocino in 245, and
the river Colorado in 260. Laftly, the above-
mentioned officer, don George Juan, in fome
tables of longitude and latitude of the coafts of
America, which he himfelf took from the beft
charts ufed by the South Tea pilots, and which
he was fo kind as to communicate to me,
places Cape San Lucas in 263 deg. 50 min.
common longitude. Cape Mendocino in 249
deg. 49 min. and the river Colorado in 251 deg.
49 min. In fuch a variety of opinions, which
can WQ prefer ? and poffibly it was this which
occafioned the prudent refcrve of father Fer^
nando Confag, who, in the year 1746, took a
particular furvey of the eailern coafl of Cali-
fornia, up to the river Colorado, in order to
determine, with accuracy, its fituation, and the
difpute relating to its juncftion with the conti-
nent, has not ventured to fet down the long,
in his maps. However, in this which I have
drawn, 1 have ventured to depart from his
refpe6lable example, having fet down the
longitudes I thought refulted from weighing
the different fafts and obfervations on which
thofe were founded ; and flatter myfelf, that
if they are erroneous, they will be of fome ufe
in
a copy of it will be placed
s work ; where the curious
e read the rnoft certain ac-
counts
7'ai J.pa^ i^.
/o Apjvches
CALIFORNIA. i-
in making the corre(5tions which obfervations
may hereafter fhew to be necelTary.
SECT. II.
Account of the gulf of California, its coafts,
and iflands.
It has been the earneft defire of the jefiiits,
fmce their firft entrance into California, to take
an exaft and particular view of the outward or
W. coafl: of this peninfula, which is wafhed
by the Pacifick Ocean, or South fea. But
hitherto a thoufand inconveniencies and difli-
culties have hindered them from executing this
laudable defign, except in fome places only,
of which we Ihall give an account in its proper
place. Previoufly to the entrance of the je-
fuits, many difcoveries had been made of this
coaft -, but none fo accurate as that in 1602,
under general Sebaftian Vizcaino, by order of
Philip III. A narrative of this voyage was
written by Antonio deila Afcenfion, a bare-
footed Carmelite, who accompanied the gene-
ral, and of which Juan de Torquemada has
made a faithful extrad, too large indeed to be
inferred here, but too important to be omit-
ted, and th<^refore a copy of it will be placed
at the end of this work ; where the curious
wiay at their leifure read the moft certain ac-
counts
14 n I S T O R Y O F
counts we are pofiefled of, relating to this
weftern coall. In the mean time, to avoid re-
petitions, we fhall pafs over the defcription of
it, and proceed to give an account of the fea
or gulf of California ; and of the contiguous
coafts in which it is inclofed.
This oulf is an arm of the Pacifick fea, in-
tercepted between Cape de Corrientes on one
fide, and Cape St. Lucas on the other ; that
is, betwixt the two coalts of New Spain and
California, till it joins the mouth of the great
river Colorado. It has a near refemblance to
the Adriatick, a branch of the Mediterranean
formed by the coaft of Italy, and that of Dal-
matia in Greece. The ancient difcoverers call-
ed it Mar Barmejo, and Mar Roxo, the
Red fea, from its refembling in form, and
fometimes in colour and appearance, the gulf
of Arabia, which runs from Suez, betwixt the
coafts of Africa and Afia, and is celebrated for
the Ifraelites pafllng it on foot. It has alfo
been called Mar de Cortes, in compliance
with the folicitude of the conqueror of the Mexi-
can empire, in order to augment the glory of
his enterprizes. The more modern miflionaries
give it the name of Seno Lauritano, in honour
of our lady of Loretto, the protectrefs and pa-
tronefs of that miffion. Likewife Mar del
Oriente, becaufe it lies to the eaftward of Cali-
5 fornia^
CALIFORNIA. 25
fornia, and for a contrary reafon they give
the name of Mar de Poniente, or Weft fea to the
Pacifick ocean, which, in refpedt of the gulf
of Mexico, lies to the northward. Accord-
ingly, under that extenfive name, it is now
called Mar del Zur, or the South fea.
The Cape Corrientes lies in two deg. of lati-
tude lefs than Cape St. Lucas : yet, as from it
the coaft of new Spain takes a different di-
redion, the gulf is generally faid to begin
from thefe two capes, the mouth of the fea of
California being intercepted between them.
Cape Corrientes, according to don George
Juan, lies in 268 deg. 10 min. eaft long, from
the meridian of the ifle of Ferro, and in 20
deg. 20 min. northlat. Northward of this cape,
on the coaft of new Spain, befides the parts of
lefs note, are the bay of Valle de Vanj. ras,
at a fmall diftance from the cape ; and in al-
moft 22 deg. north lat. Matanchel harbour;
and beyond it the mouth of the river St. Ja-
go, with fome fmall iQes near it. Twenty
leagues weft of this part of the coaft, in tne
middle of the entrance of the bay of Califor-
nia, are four fmall iflands, called San Juan
and the three Maries. Along the fame coaft
are four rivers, San Pedro, Acaponeta, the
name alfo of a town lying in 22 deg. 10 min.
N. lato Cannas, which divides the kingdom
of
1$ HISTORY OF
of new Galicia from the province of CinaloSj
and the diocers of Durango from that of Gua-
dalaxara ; and the Chiametla in the province
of the fame name, facing which is the ifland of
Santa Ifabel. Afterwards we meet with the
rivers Mafatlan, with the iflands of the fame
name, and of thofe of Galicia forming the har-
bour of St. Sebaftian ; and in the fea, the
ifland de los Bendos. On the continuation
of the coaft is Punta Negra, which projects a
great way into the fea, and the rivers of Piaftia,
Elota, Tavala, and CuHacan, which gives
name to a town and province in the lar. of 25
deg. north, as does that of Cinaloa, in about
26. Not far diilant, in the fea, is a vaft
rock, or rather fmall illand. Oppofite to this
coaft, are the bay of Santa Maria, the river and
port of Ahome, in 26 deg. 30 min. lat. the
river Puerte, the largeft of any in thefe pro-
vinces, the Efteros, and the port of Santa
Lucas, formed by an ifl,and, and a little be-
yond, in almoll 28 deg. and within fight of
the mine mountain, dc los Frayles and the ri-
ver Mayo, which difcharges itfelf into the har-
bour of Santa Cruz.
On the other fidt of the river Mayo begins
the province of Ollimuri, extending 40 leagues
to the river Chico, in v/hichis inclofed part of
the Pimeria Baxa. On the eail is the bay of
Santa
CALIFORNIA. 17
Santa Cruz, the creeks of St. Martin, and St.
Bartholomew, and the Punta de Lobos A-
bout 29 deg. the river Yaqui, or San Igna-
cio falls into the fea, forming Yaqui harbour,
betwixt the villages of Belen and Raun ; and
which for its feveral conveniencies, is the mod
frequented by the California barks. From this
river begins the province of Sonora, which is
of a vaft extent up the country ; and this fide
of the continent was the lafl conquered by the
Spaniards, and converted by the jefuits. In
following the coaft are found the harbour of
Xavier, the bay of San Jofeph de los Guay-
mas, and the river de Sonora, the name of the
whole province.
From this part, as far as Caborca, which
is 90 leagues from the river Yaqui, the coafl,
on account of its being very barren and rocky,
has the appearance of a defert, all its inha-
bitants being a few Indian Seris and Tepocas,
who are all totally heathens, or very imperfedl-
]y inilrudted in chriftianity. It contains the
great bay of San Juan'Baptifta, near which is
the ifland of San Auguftin -, and farther to the
weftward, that of San Eftevan. Further to
the northward is the ifland of San Pedro, near
the coaft of the Seris. A little beyond falls
into the fea, the fmall river which waters the
milTion of the Concepcion de Caborca, a traft
Vol. I. C of
i8 HISTORY OF
of land lying up the country about two leagues
from the fea. This was the laft chriftian fet-
tlement formed in the province of Pimeria Alta,
within the government of Sonora, and lies in
31 deg. N. latitude. But in 1751 the Indians,
infenfible of their happinefs, revolted and de-
Itroyed it, and the two miffionary jefuits fettled
there, fuffering a glorious martyrdom. Not
far from this flream, father Eufebio Francifco
Kino difcovered an harbour, which he called
Santa Sabina ; and near the fhore, a fmall
ifland, about three leagues in length, to which
he gave the name of Santa Ines. In the remain-
ing part of the coafl, from 31 deg. many
geographers, both ancient and modern, placed
the rivers Coral, Tizon, Santa Clara, Am-
gouche, Perlas, and Lajas, the fhoals, with
other capes and harbours. But father Kino,
who made feveral tours along this country,
and was a very accurate obferver, from the
river Caborca, to the Colorado, met with no-
thing worth inferting in his maps, except the
rivulet of Santa Clara, which runs into the
fea. Paffing by the fkirts of the mountains of
that name, called by the fame father del Car-
rizai and San Marcelo, in lat. 3 1 deg. 30 min.
he was fo far from meeting with any fuch rivers,
that he has inferted only one piece of water
frona Santa Clara to the river Colorado i which
be
CALIFORNIA. 19
he calls Tres-Ojitos, or three little eyes, and
is fituated near the above mentioned rivulet of
Santa CJara. Relying therefore on father Ki-
no's narratives and maps, it may be confident-
ly affirmed, that from the brook of Santa Cla-
ra, the bearing of the coaft alters, running
direftly from E. to W. for the fpace of half a
degree ; where it again winds to the north.
The reft of the coaft is all a barren fand, as far
as the river Colorado, which, as we have be-
fore obferved, falls into the fea in 32 deg. 30
min. north latitude. Above this there can be none
of the above-mentioned rivers, this being the
utmoft limit of the gulf, where the eaftern coaft
of California, and that of the continent of New
Spain join with the banks of the above river.
Of all the rivers in the vaft extent of the
vice-royalty of Mexico, this is the largeft. Its
mouth at its entrance into the gulf, being near
a league in breadth. In it are formed three
fmall illands, which by reducing it into chan-
nels, increafes the rapidity of its currents. Ac-
cording to the accounts of father Kino, who,
from the commencement of the milTion of Pi-
meria Alta, in the clofe of the laft century,
and beginning of the prefent, failed up the
river Colorado feveral times -, and according
to the teftimony of father James Sedelmayer, a
miflionary of Caborca and Tubutama, who, in
C 2 his
20 HISTORYOF
his indefatigable zeal, likewife entered that river
feveral times fince the year 1 744, particular-
ly in Odober 1748. The river Colorado runs
direclly N. and S. from the 34th degree, till it
lofes itfelf in the fea. About the 35th degree, it
receives the large river Gila, and runs in one
, continued llream N. E. and S. W. to about
the 34th degree, which is alfo the courfe of the
Colorado, till thejunflion of the two rivers,
- and its banks are fo far inhabited by this na-
tion of the Alchedomas. The courfe of the
Gila, from the country of the Apaches is E.
and W. and before its influx into the Colorado,
it is enlarged by the river Afluncion, a name
given by friar Sedelmayer to another large
river which he met with befides the Gila, and
which is joined by two other fmaller rivers, by
him called Rio Salado, and Rio Verde. The
river Gila is about 100 leagues from the laft
miffions of Sonera and Fimeria ; and confe-
quently above 600 leagues N. of Mexico.
It now remains to give a defcription of the
gulf on the fide of California, its weflern
coall. The gulf begins from the bay of St,
Barnaby, is inclofed betwixt two capes ; the
moll fouthern of which is that of St. Lucas ;
and the inward called Porfia, into which the little
river flowing thro' the milTion of St. Jofeph de
Los Coras falls, Within the gulf is the bay of
Las
CALIFORNIA. 21
Las Palmas : and beyond that, another called
Serralvo -, and alfo an ifland in the middle of the
fea facing it. From hence the coaft runs to
the northward inclining to the weft, as far as the
heights of Santa Cruz, and the ifland Rofario,
where it runs due weft-, and afterwards winding
from north to fouth, forms a point of land in the
gulf, which runs from fouth-weft to north-eaft ;
and oppofite to this point is the ifland de St. Spi-
ritu Santo. This cape forms the fpacious bay de
la Paz, lying in 23 deg. 30 min. north latitude,
in which is the harbour Pitchilingues, and near
it a vaft number of fmall iflands. This bay
was the place where admiral don Ifidro de
Otondo y Antillon arrived in his firft voyage
to California ; and here he continued four
months, till the 31ft of March 1683. After-
wards he failed about 60 leagues to the north-
ward, namely, as far as the bay de los Dolores ;
in the language of the country called de Apate ;
and facing its coaft lies the ifland of San Jofeph,
and others called Las Animas, San Diego,
Santa Cruz, Montalvan, and Catalana. Im-
mediately after, the coaft forms the bay of San
Carlos, which is entirely furrounded with fmall
iflands. And beyond the coaft of Maiibat is
Loretto-bay, before called San Dionyfio, and
in the country Idiom Concho ; in which, as
we have before obferved, is the firft mifllon
C 3 found-
22 H I S T O R y O F
founded in California, and confecrated to our
lady of Loretto, the protedrefs and patronefs
of this conqueft. It lies in the latitude of 2 6 deg.
north. In this bay are the fmall iflands of
Montferrat and San Marcial ; alfo that of
Carmen, which is larger and farther up the
gulf. Betwixt this and the coaft of Ligui lies
the ifland of Los Danzantes ; and farther up,
thofe of San Cofme, San Damain and Coro-
nados.
Not far from thefe iflands, and that called
La Meftiza, the fea form.s the little bay of
San Bruno, in which are fev^eral iflands called
San Juanico; and where admiral Otondo
pitched his camp. Beyond a point of land
projecting into the fea, to which its figure has
given the name of Pulpito, begins the bay of
Comondu, fiicing which is the ifland of San
Ildefonfo. From this part, the fea, running
direciiy N. and returning immediately from
N. to S. forms another point of land re-
fembling that of La Paz above-mentioned, but
narrower, betwixt which and the coaft is
Concepcion bay, but the mouth of it is ob-
ftruded with a cluflier of fmall iflands j its lati-
tude is about 27 deg. About two leagues from
this bay, the river Mulege enters the bay of Ca-
lifornia, and beyond it is Cape San Marcos.
Oppofiie to live cape, in tlie middle of the
ftreighr.
CALIFORNIA. 23
ftreight, lies the illand of Tortuga, or Tor-
toife ifland -, and on the S. fide thofe called
the Tortuguillas, or the httlc Tortoifes, and
on the N. others called the Galapagos, or
Snails : hence the coaft ftretches away a lit*
tie inclining to the N. to Cape Virgenes, as the
neighbouring chain of mountains is called ;
among which, in the year 1746, were found
feveral volcanos. Beyond this cape the coaft
inclines more to the W. At a fmall diftance is
the harbour of Santa Ana, and three leagues
further San Carlos, which lies in 28 deg. of
N. latitude. Here, on the 9th of June 1746,
father Fernand Confago, by order of father
Chriftoval de Efcobar, provincial of New-
Spain, came up with four canoes, in order to
take a furvey of the remaining part of the
coaft terminated by the river Colorado. Be-
yond the harbours of Trinidad, San Barnabe,
and San Juan, and the cape and bay of San
Miguel de la Pepena, is cape San Gabriel de
las Almejas, or St. Gabriel of the Mufcles,
a promontory fo dreaded by all navigators
on this coaft, that they have nicknamed it
Punta de fal Sipuedes, or Point Efcape keep
off if you can. The latitude of this cape
is 29". 30'. N. Beyond this point of land
is an infinite number of iflands, which, or ac-
count of the trouble and danger arifing from
C 4 the
24 HISTORYOF
the multitude of them, are alfo called Idas
de Sal-fi Pueds. The greateft place of note along
the coafl, is the bay of San Raphael, and be-
twixt it and San Gabriel is the ifland of San
Lorenzo, together with others of a fmaller
magnitude. Further up is the bay of Las
Animas-, and that of Los Angeles, from
whence the coaft continues to San Juan and
San Pablo, which with the large ifland of Angel
de la Guarda forms the canal of de las Ballenas,
or Whales ; fo called from tlie great numbers
of them feen there. Beyond the bay of San
Luis Gonzaga, and that of the Vifitacion,
the coaft lies due N. and S. to the bay of
San Phelipe de Jefus, forming in the intervals
the harbours of Santa Ifabel and San Fermin,
and from beyond San Fermin and San Buena-
ventura it is covered with marllies, and lies
S. W. and N. E. or between the N. and E.
from the mouth of the Colorado, to the ut-
moft limit of the gulf of California, as we
have before remarked.
SECT. m.
Defcrlptlon of the country of California,
with an account of the nature of its foil.
It may be confidently affirmed, that till the
beginning of this century, no European had
pene-
CALIFORNIA. 25
penetrated into the inland parts of California j
and confequently what account any one pre-
tended to give of it, muft have been only un-
certain inferences from the little he had ob-
ferved on the coaft. However from a defirc
of alleviating, in fome meafure, by ftrange
and furprifing accounts, the uneafy fenfations
arifing from the mifcarrage of the enterprifes
for its conqueft, and the pleafure with which
the attention and wonder of the hearers flat-
ters the relator, as one who has been an eye-
witnefs of fuch ftrange things, ftimulated
many at their ignominious return from thofe
expeditions to court popularity, palliate mif-
carriages, and render their company accept-
able by a fruitful invention of fables. Th6
frequent repetition of thefe opened a door for
improvement and emulation. The laft who
arrived, thought themfelves obliged to add
fome circumftances of greater terror and won-
der, than what had been related by the firft
adventurers : and this they did with the lefs
caution, as their narratives could not be eafily
difproved.
Even the jefuits themfelves could not give
an entire and authentick account of this pe-
ninfula on their firft arrival ; it was a work
of years for them to penetrate into the inland
parts, arjd take at leifure a furvey of it, in
order
2^ HISTORYOF
order to give the world a juft account. What
errors would that perfon commit, who lliould
defcribe the nature and qualities of Spain,
when his obfervations had been confined to a fmall
part of its coaft ? I Ihall not therefore repeat
the erroneous accounts of former adventurers,
but lay before the reader, what is afcertained
by repeated modern accounts.
The length of California from cape San
Lucas to the northern limit already conquer-
ed, is about 300 leagues : befides which, a-
bout a diftrid of a league has been partly
known and defcribed.
Its breadth is fmall in proportion to its
length; for at cape San Lucas it is only 10
leagues, in fome places 20, in others 30, and
in others 40, from one fea to the other, ac-
cording to the windings of both coafts. From
the extent of the country, there mull: naturally
be a difference in the temperature of the air,
and the qualities of the foil. But it may be
faid in general, that the air is dry and hot to
a great deo;ree ; and that the earth is barren,
rugged, wild, every where over- run with
mountains, rocks, and fands, with little wa-
ter, and confequently unfit either for agri-
culture, planting, or graziery. But to fpeak
a little more particularly ; for the fpace of 20
or 30 leagues from cape San Lucas, the air
is
CALIFORNIA. 27
Is of a more kindly quality, the ground lefs
barren and rugged, and little currents of wa-
ter more frequent than in the other parts.
From hence to the garrifon of Loretto, which
is near the center of the conquered part, the
heat is in general exceflive, the mountains
craggy, and the earth dry and barren. In the
remaining part of the conquered country to
the furtheft miflions, the air is more mo-
derate, fo that at fome feafons of the year
water freezes ; but the wild difpofition of the
country is the fame. From the 28 th degree, as
far as has been difcovered along the coaft of
the peninfula, the foil is not fo rugged and
full of rocks : yet with no abatement of its
remarkable flerility. Father Kino however,
who eroded the river Colorado, between 34
and ^^ degrees, and took a very careful fur-
vey of the countries to the weft of this river,
betwixt the channel of Santa Barbara, Puerto
de Monte Rey, and Cape Mendocino, aifures us,
that there are level and fruitful trafts, inter-
fperfed with many delightful woods, plenty of
water, fine paftures, and as proper a country
for making fettlements as can be defired. This
account is confirmed by what general Viz-
caino met with on the fea coaft of thofe tracts ;
and ftill more recently by father Taraval's own
experience on the coaft of San Xavier : and
3 in
2S HISTORYOF
in the oppofite iflands de los Dolores, which
form the above named channel of St. Barbara.
Both agree that thefe coafls, either with regard
to the air, or plenty of fruits, have little or
no affinity with the other parts of Cali-
fornia.
The idea therefore which from good au-
thority is to be formed of CaHfornia as difco-
vered for near 300 leagues up the country,
is not very advantageous : but, notwithftand-
ing this country in general is rugged, craggy,
and barren, and the air difagreeable and un-
healthy ; yet near the coaft there are feveral
fpots that may be greatly improved by agri-
culture, and vy^ould produce all the neceflaries
of life. The vicinity of the fea with its vapours
moderates the heat of the atmofphere ; the fides
of the mountains fend forth currents of water,
without which, indeed fowing would often fail,
on account of the little rain, and the uncer-
tainty of it. Laftly, it is not without plains
both for pafture and tillage. Even in the cen-
ter of California there are feme vallies and
riling grounds of a tolerable foil, having
fprings for drinking and watering the grounds.
In thefe parts it is that the poor Californians
have their dwellings ; and here likewife are the
Cabe-
CALIFORNIA. 29
Cabeceras * of the miflions, and the villages
within their vifitation.
It has been a maxim always to build thefe
cabeceras near rivers and waters, to induce the
Indians to live in towns, and thereby habitu-
ate them to a chriftian and focial life under
laws. But along the whole inward coaft from
Cape San Lucas to the river Colorado, there
are only two ftreams, and thefe but fmall, the
firfl. pafles through the mifllon of San Jofeph
del Cabo, and difcharges itfelf into the bay
of San Bernabc •, the fecond is the Muleje,
which waters the miflion of Santa Rofalia, and
runs into the gulf of California, in the latitude
of 27 deg. The other miflions are near fome
fprings, whofe waters generally do not reach
the fta, unlefs in times of great rain. Others
do not fall into the gulf, but into the Paci-
fick fea on the weflern coaft ; but as no ac-
curate obfervations have been made on this
head, I will not venture to fay any thing further
about the rivers, as it mull be uncertain.
Monfieur de Fer and other modern geogra-
phers place on this coaft, and in the latitude of
26 deg. near Cape Santa Apollonia, the port
of San Martin, that of Anno Nuevo, and
♦ This is, the name of the principal town, in winch
ufually refides the miffionary, who generally has feveral
fmall villages under his care.
the
30 H I S T O R Y 0 F
the river of Santo Thome, with this par-
ticular, that they were difcovered in the year
1648. This was the asra of admiral Otondo's
expeditions, in which father Kino accompani-
ed that officer ; and though I do not find in
the narratives of that expedition, that Otondo
ever went on fliore, only to vifit the harbours of
the eaftern coaft and the gulfj yet from the
ardent curiofity of father Kino, and the great
concern he had in the affairs of California, I
cannot think that he could be miftaken in any
particular relating to the difcovery : that fa-
ther Kino, both in his large manufcript map,
and likewife in the leffer impreffion, places the
river of Santo Thome, as rifing between 26
and 27 deg. of N. latitude, and after croffing the
whole peninfula, difcharging itfelf into the
South fea, in the 26 deg. and forming at its
mouth a large harbour, which he calls Puerto
de Anno Nuevo, being difcovered in the year
1685. On both fides of the river are chriftian
villages, as is evident from their names, San-
tiago, Santo Innocentes, San Juan, San Ere-
van, Reyes, Noche-Buena, Thebayda, and
San Nicholas ; yet in the accounts of that
time, I do not m.eet with any intelligence of
this difcovery, to which I muft add, that in the
fubfequent relations, no mention is made of
any fuch river, fettlements, or harbours,
though
CALIFORNIA. 3,1
though even little brooks are taken notice of.
Thefe, and feveral other reafons, induce me
not to pronounce decifively : and many other
difficulties of the fame nature occurring about
this outward coaft, I beg leave for want of
more recent and exad information, to refer
the reader to the narrative of general Vizcaino's
voyage inferted at the end of this work.
S E C T. IV.
Of the Beads, Birds, Infeds, Fiflies, Shells,
Trees, Fruits, Plants, Minerals, and
Pearls, found in California and its feas.
From this extenfive title, I hope the reader
will not exped a complete hiftory of the animal,
vegetable, and mineral kingdoms in California,
I well know that natural hiftory has always
been the favourite ftudy of the wife in every ci-
vilized nation. I know alfo the pre fen t ap-
plication of the learned to the experimental
knowledge of nature, and the countenance it I'o
defervedly receives from the European princes ;
of which the galleries of curiofities, muf^ums,
gardens, laboratories, theatres, academies, and
innumerable books are fuch fplendid monu-
ments. I know the fatisfadion which arifes in
the breaft of a curious reader, at meeting with
any
32 HISTORYOF
any novelty in this fcience, as may reafonably
be expcifted in the accounts of countries remote
and Kttle known. I know that nothing fhould
be omitted relating to the natural hiftory, as
nothing is more pleafing to perfons of tafte ;
pofllbly the Supreme Being, in order to the
inveftigation of the wonders of his power has
infpired men with this tafte, knowing the ea-
gernefs with which they defire to fearch into,
and explain every phsenomenon of nature; or
it is the defign of Omnipotence in infpiring
the minds of men with this defire of con-
templating the works of his hands, that we may
thence acquire fome faint idea of his greatnefs.
I alfo fee with admiration the labours of many
foreigners, in illuftrating the natural hiftory of
the American colonics of their refpedive na-
tions ', as the late admirable prefident of the
royal fociety in England, fir Hans Sloane *,
mrs. Maria Sybilla Mirian, who undertook a
voyage from Holland to Surinam, to obtain a
* Catalogus plantarum, qus in infula Jamaica fponte
provenient vel vulgo coluntur, cum earundem fynonimis &
locis natalibus, adjeftis aliis quibufdam, que in infulis.
Maderse, Barbadoes, Neves, S. Chriftophori nafcuntur, feu
prodromus Hjftorise naturalis Jamaicae, I.ondini, 1695, ^^
fol. Voyage to the iflands of Madeira, Barbadoes, Ne-
vis, St. Chriftopher's and Jamaica, with the natural hiftory
of thefe countries, &c. London 1707. two vols, ia fol.
with 274 copper-plates.
more
CALIFORNIA. 35
iliore accurate knowledge of the infers of that
country. Laet and Briy, Dutchmen ; Joce-
line and Walker, Englifhmen; Lerio, a French-
man; Pifon, Markgrave, and Rochfort, Dutch-
men ; Ligon, an Enghfhman ; Cornuto, an
Itahan in the French fervice •, Bannifter, an Eng-
lifliman ; Vernon and Crieg, Englifhmen •, La-
bat, a French Dominican •, Thibeth, a French
Francifcan ; Catefby and Clayton, Englifhmen ;
Barrera la Fitau and Charlevoix, Frenchmen ;
and many others to be found in the botanical
bibliothecasofSeguierand Linnaeus. I remem-
ber the diligent cultivation of this ftudy in
Spain, even in the time of the Moors, and
much more fince the eftablifhment of the ufe-
ful arts and fciences, when Pliny was read in
fchools : and there was an emulation among
the learned, in illufbrating that author wich
notes, as Nunnius, Stran, Gomez, de Catlro,
Ponce de Leon ; whilft this artful knowledge
was farther improved by the valuable writings
of Laguna, Valles, Herrera, el Prior, Deza,
Rios, Salinas, Val de Cebro, Funes, Velez,
Vargus, Villafane, Barba, and many others,
mentioned with honour in the Spanifh Jibra-
ries. Nor am I ignorant alfo with what pre-
cifion the produ(5ls of America have been illu-
itrated by Monardes and Oviedo, but efpecial-
ly by the late, father Jofeph d'A<softa, a je-
Vol. X. H iuit.
34 HISTORYOF
fuit, whom that elegant writer, father Feyjoo-,
juftly (tiles the Pliny of America : and here I
muft not omit the famous Francifco Hernan-
dez, fent to America as well as Acofta, by
Philip II. who left in the Efcurial library fe-
venteen large volumes of defcriptions, of which
father Claudio Clemente fays, * " Qtii omnes
*' libri., & commentarii, fi prout affefti funt, ita
*' forent perfedi, & abfoluti Philippus Secundus
*' & Francifcus Hernandez, haudquaquam
" Alexandro, et Arifloteli, in hac parte con-
" cederent." But of thcfe we have only ex-
trafts, taken by father Ximenes, and Nardo
Recco, phyfician to Philip IV. I alfo with
pleafure fee the general applaufe given to illu-
Itrations of the natural hiftory of our Americari
dominions in this century : as thofe of father
Feviliee f, and Plumier J, who were fent to
America at the expence of the king of France.
The defcription of the plants of the Philippine
iflands by father Camello j thofe of the river
* Blbliothecx Efcuralis defcriptio : Appendix ad trafta-
tum Mufei, five bibliothec^e inllrudio, &c. Lugduni, 1635.
4to.
t A minim, alfo mathematician and botanjft, who
publiftied a valuable piece entitled, the Hiftory of the
medicinal plants, ufed in Peru and Chili, Paris 1714.
4to, Sequel of the fame, Paris 1725.
X Defcription de plantes d'Amerique, folio. Alfo,
Nova Plantarum Americananim genera, Paris 1703.
Oronoco
CALIFORNIA, 35
Oronoco by father Gumilla, in his excellent
work, intitled Oronoco Uluftrado ; and laftly
thofe which occur in the Relation del Viacro a
los Reynos del Peru, by don George Juan and
don Antonio Ulloa, in company with the aca-
demicians of France, to afcertain the true figure
of the earth. To conclude, I know the impa--
tience with which the literary world is expeft-
ing the obfervations of monfieur Juflleu, who
who was fent by his moftchriflian majefty with
the above academicians ; and who Hayed be-
hind in America feveral years, purely to iJlu-
ftrate the natural hiftory of that extenfive
country. All thefe particulars lie before me,
and I have related them not fo much to defend
me from the complaints of the learned, as to
incite perfons of capacity living in Spain, to
filence the lod complaints of Linnsus, on the
want of good accounts *. And likewife to
thofe that live in America, that they would
remove the caufe of fuch reproaches, by exert-
ing themfelves to gratify this noble curiofity.
* Linn. Biblioth. Botanica, part. viii. Florifts, § viii.
Hifp. pag. 96. Hifpanics Flors nulls nobis innotuerunt,
adeoque plants ift^ rariffimas in locis Hifpanias fertiliffimis
minus delefta funt. Dolendum eft, quod in locis, Europse
cultioribus tanta exiftat noftro tempore barbaries bo-
tanices ! Pauciffimas iftas plantas, qua: nobis in Hifpania &
Portugalia conftant, dsbemus curioiis clafs. iii, Tournefor-
tio & paucis aliis.
D 2 In
26 HISTORY OF
In the mean time, I fliall be ranked among
thofe who increafe the above complaints in imi-
tation of the learned Muratori, in his Notitia
del Paraguay. For in expeflation of more
pundtual and particular informations, my intent
here is, only to give a general idea of the fub-
jecls mentioned in the title.
In California are now found all kinds of
domeftick animals, commonly ufed in Spain
and Mexico ; for tho' the miffionaries met with
none fuch, they have fmce been tranfported from
New Spain, for horfes, mules, afTes, oxen, Ibeep,
hogs, and goats, and even dogs and cats have
been found to thrive well in this country. In
California are two fpecies of wild creatures for
hunting, which are not known in Old or New
Spain. The firfi: is that which the CaUfornians
in the Monqui tongue call Taye. It is about
the bignefs of a calf, a year and a half old, and
greatly refembles it in figure, except in its
head, which is like that of a deer, and the
horns very thick, refembling thofe of a ram :
its hoof large, round, and cloven, like that of
an ox : its fkin is fpotted like the deer, but the
hair thinner, and it has a fliort tail : the flefh is
very palatable, and to moft taftes exquifite.
The fecond fpecies differs very Httle from a
Iheep, but a great deal larger, and more bulky V.
thefe are of two colours, white and black, both
well
^yAe^ t^^^/fe or t^J'o.x- .
kJ/ia: *^(ri/< (>/• ( a///<>/^i(ft ji SJ-c'<-/\
^
CALIFORNIA. 37
well covered with excellent wool. The flefh of
thefe is not lefs agreeable, and they wander iii
droves about the forefts and mountains. Here
is alfo plenty of deer, hares, rabbits, and wild
goats, though the Indians kill great numbers
in their huntings •, but the coyotes are fcarce.
This is a Mexican word, and in New Spain
the name of a peculiar fpecies of wild dog, in
feme particulars refembling the foxes of Spain,
efpecially in their arts and ftratagems ; though
their figure is very different. Some leopards
aifo have been fcen here, and are the fame crea-
tures with thofe called lions in the king-
dom of Mexico. A few years fince fome In-
dians killed a wolf; and all their countrymen
affirmed, that it was the firft they had ever
feen of that kind : which proves that there are
few of them, the Indians being continuaHy
hunting in the forefls. Goats, cats, and Vvnld
hogs are frequently found among the moun-
tains. Father Torquemada obfcrves, that a-
bout Monte Rey are very large bears, an ani-
mal fomething like a buffalo, and a creature
very different from the tyger, as will appear
fjrom the following defcription he has given of
it : it is about the bignefs of a fleer, but fliap-
ed like a flag; its hair refembles that of a pe-
lican, and is a quarter of a yard in length ; its
neck long, and on its head are horns, like
V 3 thoff
58 HiSTORYOF
thofe of a flag ; the tail is a yard in length,
and half a yard in breadth ; and the feet cloven
like thofe of an ox. The fame father relates,
that in the bay of San Bernabe, near Cape Sao
Lucas, tygers are found, and that the Indigns,
among other things, brought the fkins of them
to the Spaniards.
But the greateft curiofity in this particular^
which has been found in California, is a kind
of animal exactly refembling a beaver, if not
aftually a fpecies of that creature. Father Si-
glfmundo Taraval faw feveral during his jour-
ney, in the year 1733, to tli^ ifland de los Do-
lores, in a part called San Andres, four days and
a half journey from the mifllon of San Ignatio.
They found fuch numbers of them together,
that the fcamen killed above twenty of thern,
following them only with flicks. Some of the
fkins of thefe creatures the father fent to Mexi-
co. He fi.ippofes thefe animals to be amphibi-
ous, like the beaver ; but fays nothing of that
fkiil and regularity fo much admired in the
flruftures which the Canada -beavers build
along the rivers for their habitations.
With regard to fnakes and terreftrial infe(5ls,
befides the common fpecies, here are alfo thofe
which ufually abound in hot countries, as vi-
pers of different kinds, efts, fcorpions, fpiders,
fcolopendras, crickets, pifmires, and lizards 5
and
CALIFORNIA. S9
and one of the accounts adds, tarantulas, but
without any mention that ics bite is attended
with the remarkable frenzy fucceeding that of
the tarantulas of Calabria. Laftly, though
the heat in Cahfornia is generally exceffive,
yet even the moifl parts do not abound with
thofe mifchievous infeds, the bugs, niguas *,
and others, both common and peculiar to Ame-
rica.
Of birds there is an infinite variety. Among
thofe which ferve for the table, are turtles,
herons, quails, pheafants, geefe, ducks, and
pigeons. The birds of prey are vultures,
hawks, falcons, offiphrages, horn -owls, ravens,
and crows, which in New Spain are called in
the Mexican dialed!:, zopilotes ; and another kind
called auras, of excellent ufe in keeping the
■cities clean, leaving no dead carcafe in the
ftreets, whither they repair early every morn-
ing. With regard to night birds, there are
owls, and many others of a fmaller kind, not
feen in any other parts, nor mentioned by any
naturalifts •, nor have the narratives of the je-
fuits fupplied us v/ith a defcription, or even
* Very fmall infe£ls, which He hid in the dull, leap
like fleas, and work themfelves into tlie feet or legs
of thofe that go barefoot; where they breed fo wonder-
fully, that they are fcarce to be got out again, and fome-
times there is no deftroying them without cauterizing or
Wtting off the part.
D 4 the
40 H I S T O R Y O F
the name of them. CaHfornia has a great va-
riety of Tinging birds, efpecially of thofe kinds
found either in Old or New Spain, as larks,
nightingales, and the like, mod of which are
adorned with beautiful plumages. Father Tor-
quemada fays, " that about the harbour of
Monte-Rey are buflards, peacocks, gcefe,
thrufhes, fwaliows, fparrows, gold -finches, ii-
iiets, quails, partridges, blackbirds, v/ater-
wagtails, cranes, vultures, and other birds,
refembling turkey-cocks: the latter were the
largeft we ever faw, the diftance from one
wing to the other being feventeen palms. He
adds, that there are cormorants, gulls, and
mews." The fame author fays, that in the
ifland of Affumpcion they faw great numbers of
a particular fpecies of gulls, which, as they
are found in feveral parts of California, it may
not be improper to infert here the defcription
of them, by friar Antonio della Affumpcion.
'^ The gulls live on pilchards and other Imall
fifhes j but they are equal to a very large goofc
in fi?:e, their bill a foot in length, and their
long legs refemble thofe of the flork ; their
beak and feet are like thofe of a gooie. They
have a vaft craw, which in fome hangs down
like tiie leather bottles ufed in Peru for carry-
ing water •, and in it tht-y put their captures
to c^rry them to their young ones. The friend-
CALIFORNIA. 41
ly difpofition of thefe birds is fomething fur-
prifing ; for they afiift one another, as if they
had an unadulterated ufe of reafon. If any-
one is fick, weak, maimed, or otherwife dif-
abled from going in queft of food, he is plen-
tifully affifted by others, who lay it before
him : of this I myfelf was an-eye witnefs in
the iQand of San Roque, where I accidentally
found a gull tied with a firing, and one of
his wings broke ; around this maimed bird lay-
heaps of excellent pilchards, brought thither
by its companions : and this I found was a
ftratagem pradifed by the Indians, to procure
themfelves a difh of fifh ; for they lie conceal-
ed, while the gulls bring thefe charitable fup-
plies ; and when they think that litrle more is
to be expcdlcd, they feize upon the contribu-
tions." Such are the myfterious ways of pro-
vidence for the fupport of his creatures '
As the air and qualities of the earth are
±
not uniform in all parts of California; fo
neither are they in the producftion of trees and
plants. The point of the peninfula towards
Cape San Lucas is more level, fertile, and
temperate than any other, and thence more
woody. In the other parts, even to the fur-
thed milTions on the eaft coafl, no. timber has
hitherto been difcovered large enough for rafters ;
and if any churches or other buildings are
found
4t HISTORYOF
found roofed with wood, it has been brought
by fea from Cinaloa. In the territory of Gua-
dalupe alone are found large quantities of
timber, and of this the floop called el Tri-
iimpho delia Cruz was built, in order to make
a futher difcovery of the gulf, as we fhall
mention in the fequel. Father Torquemada,
and father Afcencion, indeed fay, that in the
bay of Magdalena on the outward coaft,
there is a fpot of ground near the fea cover-
ed with large trees, which the Indians ufe for
building their fifhing barks. The mountains
all over this vaft traft, are totally bare of
verdure, as the Sierra Pintada -, or at mod
only covered with fmall flirubs, briars, and
low trees -, but many of them have excellent
fruit, fome common to Europe, and others
peculiar to America. Thefe however, are
mod frequent along the coafts, where they
enjoy the benefit of water, efpeciaily on the
banks of rivers and lakes ; where there are
alfo rufhes, ofiers, and fedges. Some willows
and palm-trees are alfo found on the banks of
rivers, efpeciaily towards Cape San Lucas.
JBut among the plants and fhrubs which mod
abound in California, the principal is the pita-
haya, a kind of beech, the fruit of which
forms the great harveft of the poor inhabi-
tants here. This tree is not known in Europe,
5 and
CALIFORNIA. 43
and differs from all other trees in the world j
its branches are fluted and rife vertically from
the ftem, fo as to form a very beautiful top ;
they are without leaves, the fruit growing
to the boughs. The fruit is like a horfe
chcflnut, and full of prickles : but the pulp
refembles that of a fig, only more foft and
lufcious. in fome it is white, in fome red,
and in others yellow -, but always of an exqui-
fite taile : fome again are wholly fweet; others
of a grateful acid. And as the pitahaya is very
juicy, it is chiefly found in a dry foil : but its
mod valuable quality is its being a fpecifick a-
gainfl: the diftemper de Loanda. California has
alfo great plenty of red junas, called in New
Spain, junas japonas, and a particular fpecies of
fig. Father Afcencion fays, " That the bay of
San Barnabe abounds with various trees, as fig
trees, Ienti{]<:s, pitahayas, an infinite number of
plum trees, which, inftead of refin or gum, yield
a very fine and fragrant incenfe in great quan-
tity. What tafte thefe plums have, J cannot
fay from my own experience : but they who
have been in California, greatly comm.end
them." In faiSt, it is not only in this bay,
but in mi any other parts near the weflern coafr,
that thefe plum trees abound, the fruit of
which is carefully gathered by the Indians,
fhe incenfe or refin tranRides from thefe and
oth^r
44 HISTORYOF
other trees lb copiouOy, that it is uffd mixed
with tallow for paying bottoms of fhips. The
mountains and forefts yield the mezcal, and
according to Torquemada the maquey j the
roots of which boiled is a principal ingredi-
ent in the mexcalli, a kind of food which
the natives prefented the Spaniards at the bay
of San Francifco. Here are alfo wild vines, to-
gether with a great variety of fmall plants and
herbs. One fpecies of them called pita, fup-
plies the Indians with thread for making their
nets and other ufes ■, and from different herbs
they make with admirable (Ivill and elegance,
a kind of plates and balkets. The inhabitants
on the banks of the river Colorado make
of the fame herbs lirtle tubs or bins, called
coritas, which generally hold about two bufhels
of maize : and with thefe they tranfport their
goods from one fliore to the other without be-
ing in the lead damaged by the water, they
themfelves fwimming behind and fhoving thefe
vehicles alonc^ before them. Other herbs alfo
ferve them for food; efpecially three kinds,
all of them frequent in New Spain : the
firft is yuca, a large thick root, which they
cut into dices and exprefs the juice ; after-
wards it is made into broad thin cakes, and
eaten inflead of bread. The fccond is the Ca-
motes, which are very fwect and palatable.
The
CALIFORNIA. 45
The third is the gicamas, which in tafte ex-
ceed thofe of Mexico : there is fcarce an herb
or root which they do not apply to fome ufe.
Father Francifco Maria Picolo, one of the firft
miflionaries that went among them, relates,
that they have above fourteen different kinds
of feeds which they ufe, though he mentions
only thefe three ; the red frixoles, or kidney
beans ; the canamones, or hemp feed, and
alpifte, a kind of canary feed. Befides thefe
trees and roots, here are others which have
been tranfplanted by the mifTionaries from the
continent, and mod of them with very good
fuccefs, efpecially in thofe parts where they
have the conveniency of water ; fo that the
banks of the rivers, canals, and watering
places are decorated with olives, fig trees, and
vines; and in fome parts, the latter have throve
fo well, as to afford a wine, equal to the beft
in Europe. Father Juan de Ugarte, whom we
fhall have occafion frequently to mention here-
after, brought hither almofl every kind of
fruit trees growing in New Spain •, and having
planted them in a foil properly prepared ori
the coaft of San Miguel, and kept daily wa-
tered, they all flourifhed •, the fame fuccefs
attended the experiments made v/ith wheat,
maize, French beans, melons of both kinds,
garvanzo, or a kind of psafe, and all forts of
efca-
46 HISTORY OF
efculents, where-ever they could be fown and
cultivated. It is alfo proper to obierve, that
in the countries not hitherto reduced, lying
between the river Colorado and the coafts of
Monte Rey to Cape Mendozino, both the fa-
thers Kino and Juan de Torquernada relate,
that there is a great number of large trees,
holms, pines, and black and white poplars.
We have not hitherto had any particular
account of its minerals -, but fome intelligent
perlbns are of opinion, that the Sierra Pin-
tada and other parts abound with metals, as
they exhibit all the marks and appearances of
gold and filver mines. Capt. Woods Rogers
fays, that fome of his men faw on the coalt
of California feveral heavy, glittering, fliining
ftones, which they imagined to contain fome
valuable metal ; but it was then too late to
fearch for them, or even to carry them on
board for a further examination. It is indeed
natural to fuppofe, that there are many very
rich mines in California, as the oppofite coaft
in the provinces of Sonora and Pimeria are
known to abound with them ; for in the year
1730 a vein was difcovered on an eminence,
not far from the garrifon of Pimeria, the ore
of which, with a little labour, yielded fo large
a quantity of filver as furprifed the inhabi-
tants of New Spain •, and it remained fome
time
CALIFORNIA. 47
time a queflion, whether it was a mine, or
treafures hid by the Indians. Some have alfo
been difcovered which contain veins of other
metals : rock fait is alfo found here, of a
whitenefs equal to cryftal, and famples of it
have been carried to Mexico.
But if the foil of California be in general
barren, the fcarcity of provifions is fupplied
by the adjacent fea ; for both in the Pacificlc
ocean and the gulf of California, the multi-
tude and variety of fiilies are incredible. Fa-
ther Antonio de la Afcencion, fpeaking of the
bay of San Lucas, fays, " With the nets
which every Ihip carried, they caught a great
quantity of fifh of different kinds, and all
wholefome and palatable: particularly holy-
bufs, falmon, turbots, fkates, pilchards, large
oyfters, thornbacks, mackarel, barbels, bo-
netos, foals, lobfters, and pearl oyfters." And,
fpeakingof the bay of San Francifco on the wed-
ern coaft, he adds : " Here are fuch multitudes
of fifh, that with a net, which the commodore
had on board, more was caught every day,
than the Iliip's company could make ufe of:
and of thefe a great variety, as crabs, oyfters,
breams, mackarel, cod, barbels, thornbacks,
&c." And in other parts he makes mention
of the infinite number of fardines, which are
left on the fand at the ebb, and fo exquifite,
that
48 HISTORY OF
that thofe of Laredo in Spain, then famous
for this fifh, do not exceed them. Nor
are ffifh lefs plentiful along the gulf, where
to the above-mentioned fpecies father Pic-
colo adds, tunnies, anchovies, and others.
Even in the little rivulets of this peninfula are
found barbels and crayfifh : but the mofl: di-
flinguidied fifh of both feas are the whales ;
which induced the ancient cofmographers to
call California, Punta de Balenas, or Cape
Whale : and thefe fifh being found in multi-
tudes along both coafts, give name to a chan-
nel in the gulf, and a bay in the South fea.
From the fifh, I fliall next proceed to the
amphibious and teflaceous kind. Of the for-
mer here are very few except the beavers
above-mentioned, if they are fuch, and the
fea wolves, or, as fome call them, fea lions :
thefe frequent fome of the fhores, and the de-
fert iflands of both feas.
The mod remarkable among the teftaceous
kind, is the tortoife ; feveral kinds of wilks
and other turbines are thrown up by the fea,
in fuch numbers, that, in fome parts, the fliore
is quite covered with them. On the coaft of
the South fea are fome fmall fhell fifli or con-
ches peculiar to it, and perhaps the mod
beautiful in the world : the luftre exceeding
that of the finefl mother of pearl, and appear-
CALIFORNIA. 49
ing through a tranfparent varnifh of a moft
vivid blue, like the lapis lazuli. It is thought
that were thefe imported to Europe, the aqua
marina would be no longer valued : thefe are
univalves, and confequently different from
the fhell fifh in which the pearls are found,
the latter being bivalves, like our oyfters.
They are called madres perlas, and found in
California, or rather as father Piccolo fays,
along the whole coaft, and efpecially the adja-
cent iflands, where there are fo many banks of
them, that they may be counted by thoufands.
And this abundance of pearls has rendered Ca-
lifornia fo famous, that great numbers of per-
fons during the two lafl: centuries, ftimulated
by avidity after this treafure, have vifited
California, fearched every part of the gulf,
and are ftill continually reforting hither with
no other view, than that of enriching them-
fclves by thefe pearls. The oyfters in which
they are found lie in great numbers on banks
in the gulf, and commonly called hoftias.
** The fea of California, fays father Torqui-
mada, affords very rich pearl filheries, where
in three or four fathom water the hoftias, or
beds of oyfters may be feen as plain as if
they were on the furface of the water. He
adds, that it was a pradice among the Indians
to throw the oyfters into the fire^ by which
Vol. I. E means
50 HISTORYOF
means the pearls were deftroyed ; for they ufed
only the flefh of the fiih : but the avidity
of others has communicated its flame, even to
this fimple people ; who are now eager to get,
and careful to keep, what they have feen fo
highly valued by foreigners. This fifhery is
carried on by divers ; but as the water in the
gulf is not very deep, it is attended with lefs
labour and danger, than thofe on the coaft of
Malabar and other parts of the Eaft Indies, if
we may judge from the narratives given us of
them. Great numbers refort to this fifhery
from the continent of New Spain, New Ga-
licia, Culiacan, Cinaloa, and Sonora : and the
many violences committed by the adventurers,
to fatiate if poflible their covetous temper, have
occafioned reciprocal complaints : nor will they
ever ceafe while the defire of riches, that bane
of fociery, predominates in the human breaft.
Father Piccolo obferves, that in the months
of April, May, and June, there falls with the
dew a kind of manna, which becomes in-
fpiflfated on the leaves of the trees. He adds^
that he talked it, and though not fo white as
fugar, it had all the fweetnefs of it. The
good father talks according to the common
opinion, as if the manna dropped from the
fl-iy. But botanifls are agreed, that it is a
jiiice exfudating from the plants themfelves in
the
CALIFORNIA. 51
thje fame manner as gums, incenfe, balfams,
refins, &c. It is no wonder that the trees of
CaJifornia Ihould exfudate manna, fmce many
parts of Spain produce it in an aftonifhing
plenty ; and for medical ufes, equal to that
of Calabria, or Sicily. This was an advan-
tage formerly little known in Spain, but his
majefty on the reprefentation of the royal col-
lege of phyficians at Madrid in 1752, gave
orders, that two of its members fhould make
a further examination of the produce of manna :
thefe were don Jofeph Minuart, and don
Chriftopher Velez*. The former was fent
among the mountains of Avila, and the latter
among the Pedroches, or feven towns of Cor-
dova, fituated among the mountains of An-
dalufia: and that its virtues lliould experi-
mentally be proved, by exhibiting it to the
patient in the hofpitals. And it has been found
that Spain alone produces manna, fufficienc
to fupply the whole world : for not only an
incredible quantity of it is gathered in the
parts above-mentioned, where it is formed
• This valuable peifon, to the great lofs of botanicat
improvements in Spain, died at Madrid in 1753. Hismo-
ral virtues, extenfive knowledge, and confummate expe-
rience in all parts of natural hiftory, which made his cor-
refpondence valued by the learned, of feveral nations,
feemed, according to human judgment, to render him wor-
thy of a longer life.
E 2 about
52 II I S T O R Y O F
about the dog-days, but likewife in the moun-
tains of Afturias and Galicia, Cuenca, Aragon,
Catalonia, and the other provinces, where they
call it mangia •, but hitherto it was only ufed
by the bees in forming their combs.
SECT. V.
Of the different Nations and Languages
of California.
The word nation generally fpeaking, has a
different import in America, from what it has
in Europe •, though even in the latter it is not
always ufed in the fame fenfe. In Europe it is
applied to thofe who inhabit a certain extent of
country, or live under one government, whether
their language be the fame or not. In Ame-
rica, there being among the unconquered In-
dians neither diftindlion, limits of province,
nor demarkation of divifions, as was found in
the two empires of Mexico and Peru, all
ufing the fame language, they account one
nation ; whether they live near one another,
or are difperfed in different rancherias or
places of abode : or, if there be any difference
in the idiom, but very fmall, fome languages
being only dialefts of another, fo that they
underftand one another. But when the lan-
guage
CALIFORNIA. 53
guage is lb different that they cannot under-
ftand each other, then they are faid to be of
different nations. Sometimes indeed the na-
tions do not derive their name from the lan-
guage they fpeak, but from the part of the coun-
try they inhabit, or fome other circumllance
of the fame kind.
"With regard to the nations inhabiting Cali-
fornia, there have been variety of opinions, as
there was alfo concerning their languages.
Some miffionaries have told us, that there are
fix different languages fpoken in this peninfula :
others fay there are only five. But fatherTaraval,
and fome others, fay there are no more than three.
This difference arifes from languages having
been judged different by fome, vvhilft others
examining more particularly into them, have
found that they were only dialefts of the fame
language ; the difference being too little to
make any diftindion betv/een them.
Among the various opinions this has occa-
fioned among the narratives, the preference, I
think, is due to father Taravai, as none was
better acquainted with all thofe countries -, and
he was an eye-witnefs of every thing he afferts.
The languages, fays this judicious miffionary,
are three, that of Cochimi, Pericu, and Loret-
to. From the latter two dialecls have been
formed, namely, Guaycura and Uchiti,
E 3 The
54 HISTORY OF
The variation indeed is fuch, that a perfon un-
acquainted with the three languages, would be
apt to conclude, that there were not only four,
but five. The Indians underftand one another
in words, fignifying the fame thing, in the
the three languages of Loretto, Guaycura, and
Uchiti ; but thcfe are very few. Thofe who
are of opinion that thefe three variations have
been formed from two languages, conclude that
there mud have been four. The principal nations
yet difcovered on the peninfula, fpeak the lan-
guages above-mentioned, and divide it into
three parts, almoft equal to each other. The
firft tovvards the fouth, from Cape San Lucas,
to a little beyond the Puerto de la Pas, is in-
habiLed by the Pericu nations ; the fecond from
La Pas, to beyond the garrifon of Loretto,
by that of the Monquis ; and the third from
Loretto northward, as far as is difcovered, by
the Cochimi nation. It muft, however, be ob-
ferved, that in the territories of one nation or
language, there are ufually rancherias or fettle-
ments of other languages and nations ; and
thefe general nations are fubdividcd into tribes
or families. One language alio has often dif-
ferent names, and the rancherias, and le/Ter
nations, as we have already obferved, ufually
take their name, not from the language, but
Other circumflances.
CALIFORNIA. S5
In order to proceed with all poflable perfpe-
cuity, and amidft fiich intricacy to avoid er-
ror and confufion, it muft be remarked, that
in the mifiion of Loretto Concho, which is the
feat of the royal garrifon, and the capital of all
the miflions, they have particular words by
which they call the nations of the peninfula»
relatively to the part in which they live. The
Indians to the fouth of this territory, they call
Edu, Eduu, or Edues ; the general name for
themfelves is Monqui, or Monquis : and the
more northern inhabitants they call Laymones.
Thefe three names having their origin in the
capital, are pretty well known all over Cali-
fornia, But as different perfons fometimes vifs
one name, and fome: iir.es another, a great
deal of confufion may eafijy refult ; and there-
fore we muft obferve, that the Edues are the
fame with the fouthern Pericues, though the
name of Edues not only includes thefe, but
likewife fome branches of the general name of
Loretto, or the Monquis. The Laymones are
the fame as the northern Cochin, i;:s, though
the name of Laymones alfo extends to fome
rancherias of the fame inland nation of Mon-
qui or Loretto.
The nation of the Pericues or Edues, which
I have faid inhabit the moft fouthern part of
California, towards Cape St. Lucas, is fub-
E 4 divided
S(> H I S T O R Y O F
divided into feveral tribes, of which the mofl
numerous is that of the Coras, originally the
name of one rancheria only -, but afterwards
given to fome villages, and to the river which
difcharges itfelf into St. Barnaby-bay. The
nation of Loretto has no proper name in the
Indian tongue, including its whole extenfion :
and therefore to denote it in general, we ufe
the name of the principal of its branches, or
diftrifts, the Monquis. But, befides thefe,
there are others who have their names
from the diff rence of their diale»5ls, the parts
where th?y !ive, and other incidents. Of
thefe, the moft remarkable are the Uchiti
inhabiting the neighbourhood of the bay and
town of La Pas : and the Guaycuras, which
reach from La Pas along the coaft of the gulf,
to the borders of Loretto. The Monquis
thcmfelves are divided into Liyues, Diduis,
and other leffer branches. They who think
the GuaycLira and Uchiti are languages diffe-
rent irom that of the Monquis, are alio of opi-
nion that they are different nations, and not
branches of the fame. However, we fhall
follow father Taraval, who confidcrs them as
one general nation and language. The moft
numerous of all the nations is, that of the
Cochimies or Laymones : and, indeed, hither-
to the utmoft limits of their language are not
known.
CALIFORNIA. 57
known. This nation is likewife divided Into fe-
veral branches, who have their fmall variations
in the idiom, termination, and pronunciation :
and the like is obfervable in the mod northern
miflion, confecrated to St. Ignatius ; in the
whole remaining coaft to the river Colorado ;
and, on the oppofite weftern coaft, in the part
called San Xavier, and the ifland de los Do-
lores.
Thefe are all the nations which hitherto have
been reduced ; but the nation and language of
the Cochimies, feem to extend beyond the laft:
miflion of San Ignacio. But befides thofe al-
ready converted, others have been difcovered
on the continent of Pimeria, who muft not here
be omitted, as belonging to California. Fa-
ther Kino relates, that in his journey from the
Pimeria, to the Colorado, and pafllng that
river, at the place where it receives the waters
of the Gila, he found along its banks, on the
Californian fide, the nations oftheBagiopas, the
Heabonomas, the Iguanas, and Cutguanes or
Cueganas. In his map he places the Bagio-
pas, about the mouth of the Colorado, and
the Heabonomas a little above them, on the
eaft fide of that river, oppofite to the Yumas
and Quiquimas, which inhabit the weft. The
fame father, a little above the conflux of the
Gila and Colorado, to the v/eft of the former,
^nd
5$ HISTORY OF
and eaft of the latter, found the nation of the
Alchedomas, dwelling along the weft fide of
the Colorado, in numerous, large, and popu-
lous rancherias •, they alfo inhabit the banks of
the river Gila, contiguous to them. He adds,
that a Cocomaricopan affured him, that on the
other fide of the river Colorado, towards Cali-
fornia, lived another nation, called Cuculatos,
but fo unknown, that he could get no fatif-
faftory account of it. The other nations in-
habiting the countries between the river Colo-
rado, Monte Rey, and cape Mendozino, and
the remaining country, along thefe coafts, are
almoft utterly unknown, fo that nothing can
be affirmed of them with certainty, which the
candour, due to the publick, requires.
Of all the nations hitherto difcovered, the
Californians are at leaft equal to any in the
make of their bodies. Their faces alfo are far
from being difagreeable, though their daub-
ing them with ointments, painting them, and
boring holes through their noftrils and ears
are very great difadvantages. Their com-
plexion indeed is more tanned and fwarthy than
that of the other Indians of New Spain. But
they are in general robuR", vigoious, and of
a healthy countenance. There is no appear-
ance, that the Californians have hitherto had
any knowledge of the wonderful contrivance
of
CALIFORNIA. 59
of letters, by which we converfe with the an-
cients, and preferve the tranfadtions of former
ages. Nor had any of the American nations
the leaft idea of fo noble an invention. It
muft however be owned, that the Peruvians
had fomething very nearly equivalent to it in
their quipos, or ftrings of different colours,
which with a fagacity really furprifr^g, they
preferved their traditions and jntiquities, and
applied them to feveral other ufes neceflary in
fociety. A more particular account of thefc
quipos is given by father Acofta, Garcilafo,
and Marcin Murua, whofe manufciipt fo high-
ly commended by don Nicholas Antonio, is
yet preferved in the library of the jefuits col-
lege at Alcala de Heneras in Old Spain ; and
feveral copies of it are in other places.
The Mexicans made ufe of fymbols and
hieroglyphicks, by which they painted events,
and fufficiently indicated an admirable genius ;
and by this means they preferved the knowledge
of their religion, laws, andhillory, and even the
rights of particular families. Their chrono-
logy, cycles, and computations cannot be con-
fidered without aftoniOiment. Some account
of their hieroglyphicks and painted memorials
may be feen in Gomara, Dias del CaftiJlo,
Acofta, Herrera, Torquimada, Soils, Betan-
court, and almofl all others who have treated of
I the
6o HISTORYOF
the affairs of Mexico, particularly father Kir-
cher, Gemelli Careri, mr. Purchas, and other
foreign authors.
Had the Californians been acquainted with
the ufe of letters, we fhould eafily have dif-
covered whether the founders of the Ameri-
can nations pafled from Afia to the conti-
nent or not : and whether this happened be-
fore, or fince, the invention of characters in
Afia and Europe. We fhould alfo have been
able to have formed fome reafonable conjecture
with regard to the particular nation of the
firfl peoplers of this extcnfive continent.
Of all the parts of America hitherto difco-
vered, the Californians lie neareft to Afia. We
are acquainted with the mode of writing in all
the eaftern nations. We can diftinguifh be-
tween the charafters of the Japonefe, the
Chinefe, the Chinefe Tartars, the Mogul Tar-
tars, and other nations extending as far as the
bay of Kamfchathka ; and learned difl^erta-
tions on them, by mr. Bayer, are to be found
in the acfts of the Imperial academy of fcien-
ces at Peterfburg. What difcovcry would it
be to meet with any of thcfe characters, or
others like them among the American Indians
neareft to Afia : But as to the Calirornians, if
ever tliey were polfefllrd of any invention to
perpetuate their m.emoirs, they have entire-
CALIFORNIA. 6t
ly loft it : and all that is now found among
them, amounts to no more than feme obfcure
oral traditions, probably more and more adul-
terated by a long fuccefTion of time. They
have not fo much as retained any knowledge
of the particular country from which they
emigrated ; fo that both the Edues or Pericues,
and the Cochimies or Laymones could give
no farther account, than that they heard their
anceftors came from the north ; and this
might be concluded without their information,
California being on all fides environed with
the fea, except on the north, where it joins to
the continent. Befides, there is little reafon to
think, that the firft fettlers came hither by
fea ; nor can they give any account of the
time when they came hither ; for their ftupi-
dity and ignorance are fo great, that they do
not appear to have among them any means of
diftinguifhing the years, or the intervals of
times, as the Mexicans did, by means of their
cycles of fifty years. They indeed feemfomething
better acquainted with the occafion, on which
their anceftors removed from their native fet-
tlements in the north, down into California :
which, according to their tradition, was owing
to a quarrel at a banquet, where the chief
men of feveral nations were met. This was
followed by a bloody battle-, and the fide
wluch
^2 HISTORYOF
which was defeated, flew towards the fouth,
and were eagerly purfued by the vidors, till
they flieltered themfelves among the forefts and
mountains of this peninfula.
Others fay the quarrel was only between two
great men, who divided the nation into two
pppofice factions ; and after a great flaughter,
one obliged the other to feek for fafety among
the mountains and iflands of the fea : this is
all the information the miflionaries have been
able to procure, with regard to the origin and
emigration of the Californians. And here it
may be obferved, Jiow free they are from the
vanity of many polifhed nations, who affeft
to trace their origin from remote countries,
and to decorate their anceftors with many plau-
fible and pompous ftories. It feems indeed
Something ftrange, that they fhould acknow-
ledge themfelves the defcendants of perfons
obliged by a fuperior force to quit their coun-
try, when they might eafily have pretended
to be the offspring of conquerors ; though
there are nor wanting two illuftrious examples
among the ancients of the like candour ; the
two noble flates of Rome and Carthage, boaft-
ed of deriving their origin from perfons who
had been driven from their country ; the for-
mer from the conquered Trojans, and the lat-
ter from Tyrian fugitives. But be this as it
may.
CALIFORNIA. 63
may, the moft probable conjedlure is, that
thefe nations, and all others in America, have
paffed over from Afia fince the difperfion of
nations and the confufion of tongues. Tho*
it may at the fame time be affirmed, that
hitherto there has not been found in any of
the American nations on either fide of the
equinox, one fingle, authentick, and clear
monument, of their being originally from Afia,
orof theirfuppofedtranfition into America. Nor
is there in the furtheft parts of Afia, to which
the Ruffians have hitherto penetrated, the leaft
veftige, or tradition, that the inhabitants had
ever any communication with, or knowledge
of, the Americans.
S E C T. VI.
Of the temper and manners of the Ca-
LiFORNiANSj and of their govcmment
in peace and war.
To thofe who have feen any of the Ame-
rican nations, and obferved their genius and
difpofition, it would be fufficient to fay in ge-
neral, that the ancient inhabitants of Califor-
nia did not in the leaft differ from them ; except
thofe of the two empires of Mexico and Peru, in
which, as there was a greater union and inter-
courfe, fo the fruits of it were feen in the cul-
tivation
64 H I S T O R Y O F
tivation of their reafon, in their laws, poliey,
and military condudl, and in the other branches
of government, as well as in the reciprocal and
friendly dependencies on one another. But
all the other American nations differ very little,
either in capacity, difpofition, or cuftoms.
The chara(fterifticks of the Californians, as well
as of all the other Indians, are ftupidity and in-
fenfibility ; want of knowledge and refleflion j
inconftancy, impetuofity, and blindnefs of ap-
petite •, an exceffive floth and abhorrence of all
labour and fatigue ; an incelfant love of plea-
fure and amufement of every kind, however
trifling or brutal ; pufillanimity and relaxity :
and in fine, a moft wretched want of every
thing which conftitutes the real man, and ren-
ders him rational, inventive, tradable, and
ufeful to himfelf and fociety. It is not eafy
for Europeans, who never were out of their own
country, to conceive an adequate idea of thefc
people. For even in the leaft frequented cor-
ners of the globe, there is not a nation fo
ftupid, of fuch contraded ideas, and fo weak
both in body and mind, as the unhappy Cali-
fornians. Their underftanding comprehends
little more than what they fee : abftrad ideas,
and much lefs a chain of reafon, being far
beyond their power-, fo that they fcarce ever
improve their firfl: ideas ; and thefe are in ge-
neral
CALIFORNIA. (J^
neral falfe, or at lead inadequate. It is in
vain to reprefent to them any future advan-
tages, which will refult to them, by doing or
abftaining from this or that particular imme-
diately prefent ; the relation of means and
ends being beyond the ftretch of their faculties.
Nor have they the leaft notion of purfuing
fuch intentions as will procure themfelves fome
future good, or guard them againft evils.
Their infenfibility, with regard to corpo-
real objects which lie before them, being fo
great, that it may eafily be conceived, what
fentiments they can have with regard to
rewards and punifliments in a future life.
They have only a few faint glimmerings of
the moral virtues and vices ; fo that fome
things appear good and others evil, without
any refiedtion : and though they enjoyed the
light of natural reafon, and that divine grace
which is given to all without diftinftion, yet
the one was fo weak, and the other fo little
attended to, that, without any regard to de-
cency, pleafure and profit were the motives
and end of all their adions.
Their will is proportionate to their faculties ;
and all their paiTions move in a very nar-
row fphere i ambition they have none, and
are more defirous of being accounted ftrong
than valiant : the objefts of ambition with us,
Vol. I. F honourj
:66 H I S T O R Y O F
honour, fame, or reputation, titles, pofts,
and diftinftions of fuperiority, are unknown
among them ; fo that this powerful fpring of
a<5bion, the caufe of fo much feeming good
and real evil in the world, has no power here.
The mofl that is obferved in them, is fome
fenfibility of emulation -, to fee their compa-
nions praifed or rewarded roufes them, and
is indeed the only thing which ftimulates,
and prevails on them to fhake off their innate
floth. They are equally free from avarice,
that deftruclive paflion which makes fuch ha-
vock in polite nations. The utmoft extent of
their defires is to get the prefent day's food
without much fatigue, taking little care for
that of the enfuing day. As for furniture, it
confifts wholly in their inftruments, mean as
they are, for fifhing, hunting, and war. Laft-
ly, what purfuit of wealth or eagernefs in ac-
quiring eflates can be expeded among them,
who have neither houfe, field, nor divifions of
, lands; and who know no other rights, than
that of being the firft in gathering for their
\jfe the fpontaneous productions of the earth.
This difpofition of mind, as it gives them
up to an amazing languor and laflitude, their
lives fieeting away in a perpetual inaftivity,
and deteftation of labour ; fo it likewife in-
^ duces
CALIFORNIA. 67
duces them to be attrafled by the firft objed,
which their own fancy, or the perfuafion of
another, place before them : and at the fame
time renders them as prone to altertheir refolu-
tions with the fame facility. They look with
indifference on any kindnefs done them ; nor
is even the bare remembrance of it to be ex-
peded from them. Their hatred and revenge
are excited by the (lighteft caufes : but they
are as eafily appeafed, and even without any
fatisfaclion, efpecially if they meet with op-
pofition. For though courage feems the only
thing they value, it may with truth be faid,
that they have not the lead notion of true
bravery. Their rancour and fury laft no longer
than while they meet with no refidance. The
lead thing daunts them ; and when once they
begin to yield, their fear will induce them to
ftoop to the bafeft indignities. As, on the con-
trary, by obtaining any advantage, or if the
enemy becomes dillieartened, they fwell with
a mod extravagant pride. In a word, the un-
happy mortals may be compared to children,
in whom the developement of reafon is not
completed. They may indeed be called a
nation, who never arrive at manhood. Their
predominant paffion is fuitable to fuch an un-
happy condition, in which they make fo little
ufe of reafon, i mean a violent fondnefs for
F 2 all
68 HISTORY OF
all kind of diveriion, pleafure, fefiivals, game?,
dancings, and revels, in which they brutiflily
wafte their miferable days. However, in the
Californians are feen few of thofe bad difpoli-
tions, for which the other Americans are in-
famous. No inebriating Hquors are ufed among
them ; and it is only on their feftivals that
they intoxicate themfelves, and then with the
fmoak of wild tobacco. What little every one
has is fafe from theft ; quarrels are rarely
known among them •, and the feveral members
of a rancheiia live in great harmony among
themfe!ves, and peaceably with others. All
their malice and rage they referve for their
enemies. And fo far are they from obftinacy,
harflmefs, or cruelty, that nothing could ex-
ceed their docility and gentlenefs : confequent-
ly they are eafily perfuaded to good or evil.
The government of the Californians cannot
be fuppofed to exceed the fliort limits of their
capacity -, there being among them, as we have
already obferved, neither divifion of lands or
pofleffions, and confequently no fucceflion to
immoveables, nor any other claim of pa-
trimonial rights ; nor, on the other hand, any
complaints of illegal intrufions. Every nation
or language confifts of feveral rancherias, more
or Icfs in number according to the fertility of
the foil 5 and each rancheria of one or more
families
CALIFORNIA. 69
families united by confangiiinity. But when
the mifiionaries came among them, neither the
ranch^rias nor the nations had a chief or fupe-
rior, to whom they paid obedience, or whofe
authority they acknowledged by any kind of
tribute or external ceremonies. Every family
governed itfelf according to their own fancy ;
and the natural obedience from fons to fathers
was very little, after the former were able to
provide for themfelves. The forcerers and
jugglers, of whom we fliall fpeak in the fequel,
were poffefled of fome kind of fuperiority ;
but this lafted no longer than the time of their
feftivals, or during the time of ficknefs, or other
incidents, which excited their fear or fiiperftition.
However, in the rancherias, and even in the na-
tions the mifiionaries found one, two, or more,
who gave orders for gathering the produfts of
the earth-, direded the fifi-ieries and the mihtary
expeditions, in cafe of a quarrel with any other
rancheria or nation. This dignity was not ob-
tained by blood and dcfcent, nor by age, fuf-
frages, or a formal eledlon •, the necefiity of ap-
plyingfor inftruction to one or more fev/, in fome
common exigency, rendered it natural, that, with
a tacit confent, he who was brave, expert, art-
ful, or eloquent, (hould be promoted to the
command ; but his authority was limited to
terms impofcd by the fancy of thofe, who,
F 3 without
70 HISTORYOF
without well knowing how, quietly fubmltted
to him. This leader, or cafique, conduced
them to the forefhs and fea coafts in quefl: of
food J fent and received the meiTages to and
from the adjacent dates-, informed them of
dangers -, fpirited them up to the revenge of
injuries, whether real or feigned, done by other
rancherias or nations ; and headed them in their
wars, ravages, and depredations. In all other
particulars every one v/as entire mafter of his
liberty.
The drefs throughout the whole peninfula,
from Cape San Lucas to the laft mifnon of San
Ignacio, was uniform ; for the males, whether
chi'ldren or adults, went at all times totally
naked. But admidft this naked fimilarity,
there was fome diverfity in the ornaments ufed
by every nation. The Edues towards Cape
San Lucas decorated their heads with lirings of
pearls braided with their hair : with thefe they
interwove fmall feathers, the whole forming
an ornament, whicli at a diftance refcmbled in
fome meafure a periwig. Thofe of Loretto
generally wore round thtir wafte a fightly girdle j
and on their foichead a curious fillet of net
work ; to t!;cfe fome added a neckcloth v/ith
fome well wrought figures of nacar j and fome-
times fmall round friiits like beads, which, in
feme meafure, refembkxi a roiary hanging on
r. their
CALIFORNIA. 71
their bread, of which pofiibly they might have
had fome knowledge in former times, at the
lirft arrival of the jefuits. They alfo adorned
their arms with the fame works, as with brace-
lets. The Cochines of the north ufually kept
their hair fhort, except a few, who let fome
Jocks grow to their full length. If they did
not life pearls like thofe of the fouth, they had
a more fplendid ornament, a kind of diadem, or
crown formed of feveral bands of nacar. To
compofe this, they firft detached the mother of
pearl from the (hell, gave it a fine polifli on both
lides ; and by means of a flint fevered it into
pieces of fix or eight lines in length, or two
or three in breadth. At the extremities of
thefe were fmall holes for forming them into
a circular fhape adapted to the head ; the little
bandlets of nacar hanging down on all fides.
This kind of diadems was alfo anciently wore
by the fouthern Edues, who formed them of
fmall white round fnail Iliells, refembling
pearls, and made a fine appearance. Probably
this occafioned the falfe opinion of fir Francis
Drake, who, as father Efquerer relates, be-
lieved the Indians offered him the crown and
fcepter of California.
The women, though in fome parts they
went naked like the men, according to father
Ferdinando Confage, who obfrrved that this
F 4 cuftom
72 H I S T O R Y O F
cuftom prevailed in the bay de Los Angelos,
between the laft million of San Ignacio and
the Rio Colorado, yet they in general fhewed
a great attention to that decency, which is fo
neceffary to the defence of their virtue -, and to
fuch a degree, that even their infants of the
female fex were not without a proper covering.
After the fettlement of the garrifonof Loretto,
they expreffed great offence, when they ob-
ferved any negleft of this in the daughters of
the Spanifli foldiers. The mod decent in their
cloathing were the women of the Edues to-
wards Cape San Lucas. In this diflridl is a
certain fpecies of palm trees, diilerent from
thole which produce dates •, and from thefe
the Indian women procure materials for their
petticoats. In order to which, they beat its
leaves as we do flax, till the thread or fila-
ments are feparated, which, after this prepa-
ration, if tl^ey are not finer than thofe of flax,
they are at leafl better and fofter than thofe
of hackled hemp. Their garments confift of
three pieces -, two of which form a petticoat,
reaching from tlic girdle to the feet, and the
third a fhort cloak or mantelet, which covers
the body from the fliouiders. Thefe pieces
are not woven, but the threads are faftened at
the top with one another as in fringes, and
hang down in very dole and thick, fkains
and
CALIFORNIA. -jt,
and tufts. And though they make a fort of
linen of thefe jutas or pahn threads, they only
ufe it for bags, in which they keep their inftru-
ments. The Indian women of Cape San Lucas
wear their hair long, loofe, and fpread over
their flioulders : but their head drefs is the fame
with that generally ufed by all the women of
California. It confifts of a piece of net work
made of the above-mentioned palm threads;
and when they cannot procure thefe, of mez-
cales and other herbs. Thefe nets however, are
made with fuch ingenuity, that the foldiers of
the garrifon likewife ufe them. They alfo make
very fightly necklaces of nacar interfperfed
with fmall fhells, pieces of fedge, pearls,
and the Hones of fruit : the ends of the
necklaces hang down to the waiftj their
bracelets are of the fame fafliion and materials.
Inventions which their fondnefs for ornament,
and a defire of making an attrafting appear-
ance fuggefted to the rude people of this cor-
ner of the world.
The women of the northern parts wear a
different and meaner garment, being covered
only from the waift to the knees j before they
have a petticoat made of very thin pieces of
fedge cut off at the knots, and about the fize
of a ftraw. Thefe they faften together with
pefc^l threads. This petticoat, if it may be
called
74 H I S T O R Y O F
called fuch, hides thofe parts which nature has
taught them to conceal ; but does not defend
them from the inclemencies of the v/eather.
When they cannot procure fedge, they make
life of an apron, or petticoat made of the
mefcal threads hanging down in the fame man-
ner; but the hinder part is made v/ith a piece
of the flcin of a deer, or any other beaft which
their hufbands have killed. In fome few places
it is the Guftom to cover their bodies with
mantelets of the flcins of fea-Vv'olves, hares,
foxes, and other beafls. One of the higheft
feftivals among the Cochines, according to
father Francifco Maria Piccolo, was the day in
which they annually diftributed the fkins to the
women. All the neighbouring rancherias, he
tells us, met at an appointed place, and there,
with branches of trees and bullies, ereded a
fpacious arbour, from which they cleared a
broad and level way for racers. Hither they
brought the fkins of all the beads they had
killed that year; and laid them as a carpet a-
long the courfe. None but the Cafiques and
chiefs were admitted into the arbour ; and when
the banquet, which confifted of game, fifli,
?ind fruit, was over, they inebriated themfelves
with cimarron, or wild tobacco. At the en-
trance of the arbour, one of the forcerers ufed
to take his place, dreiled in the habit of cere-
mony,
CALIFORNIA. 75
mony, and, with wild vociferations, proclaimed
the praifes of the hunters. In the mean time,
the other Indians run to and fro in a frantick
manner on the fldns •, while the women, who
afTifted at this ceremony, fung and danced
with equal tranfport. This continued till the
orator was quite fpent, when the harangue con-
cluded, and together with it the races. ThcCa-
liques then came out of the arbour, and di-
ftributed to the women the fldns for their
cloathing that year ; and this diflribution was
celebrated with freili rejoicings. The foun-
dation of all this feflivity was, that thefe poor
women were acquainted with no greater orna-
ment than the fldn of a deer, though it fcarce-
ly covered their nakednefs, with any tolerable
degree of modefty.
The men, however, were fuch ftrangers to
that virtue, that they looked upon thofe princi-
ples as ignominious and difgraccful, which re-
quired their being cloathed ; and, accordingly,
in the feveral milTions and fettlements, former-
ly made in California, when the fathers or fol-
diers offered the Indians cloaths, they either
refufed them, or afterwards threw them away.
Indeed, their idea with regard to cloathing, was
fo different from the reft of the human fpe-
cies, that, according to father Juan Maria dc
Salya-Tierra, they were highly affronted when
I he
76 HISTORYOF
the father firft direfted them, to cover, at teafi*,
what modefly requires, not being in the leaft
fenfible of any indecency from their being
naked : and it caufed among them as much
Jaughter, to fee one of their countrymen cloath-
ed, as a m.onkey drcfled like an officer would
among us ; of which the fathers had a divert-
ing inftance : a mifiionary, lately arrived at his
mifTion, cloathed two little boys, which he
entertained in his houfe, firft to teach him the
language, and afterwards to ferve him as
catechumens. The father himfelf was at
the pains of cutting out, making, and fit-
ting the cloaths for them. When the lads
firft went abroad in their new drefs, it occafion-
ed fuch indecent mirth, that the boys, afhamed
at being thus the ridicule of their countrymen,
pulled off" their cloaths, and hung them on a
tree. But being unwilling to fliew themfelves
ungrateful to the father, and at the fame time
to avoid being reprimanded, they determin-
ed to divide his kindnefs, going in the day
time naked, among their relations, and at night
drefTed themfelves to return to the father,
li The houfes of the Californians make no bet-
ter appearance than their habits. Thofe of
every rancheria are only wretched huts, near the
few waters found in this country. And as there
is a necelllty of removing to other places in
quell
CALIFORNIA. 77
quefl of fubfillence, they eafily Ihift their fta-
tion. Whcre-ever they flop, they fiielter them-
felves under the trees, from the fcorching heat
cf the fun in the day time, and in fome mea-
fure from the coldnefs of the night, and the
inclemency of the weather. In the feveriry
of the winter, they live in fubterraneous ca-
verns, which they either made themfelves, or
found in the fides of mountains. The people
near Cape San Lucas, make huts of the
branches of trees, like thofe of fhepherds,
which they doubtlefs learned from feamen, who
have been obliged to lie at anchor fome time
off the cape. In the other parts of the coun-
try their houfes are only a little fpace, inclofed
v/ith ftones laid upon one another, half a yard
high, one fquare, and without any covering but
the heavens: dwelHngsindeedfo fcanty and mean,
that an European tomb would here be reckoned
a palace. For within this fmall precind:, they
have not room to lie at full length ; fo th;it
they fleep in a fitting pofture. In the cabe-
ceras, indeed, fome, to pleafe the fathers, have
made themfelves houfes, if they may be called
fuch, of adobe or unburnt bricks, covered
with fedge ; but few live in them, nor is
there a pofllbility of bringing them to it ; for
they fhew the greateft uneafinefs, when obliged
£0 live under any covering : an evident proof
that
78 H I S T O R Y O F
that the grcateft part of what are called the
nece/Taries of life, arife purely from fancy,
example, and cuftomv
It is true, they (land in no need of large
rooms for depofiting their furniture, and the
various implements of a wardrobe, for which
the greateft part of the houfes among us is
taken up. With fo little furniture, and fo few
utenfils do the Indians content themfelves, that
in removing, they take them all on their
fhoulders ; for they confift only of a boat, a
dart, a difli, a bowl made in the fhape of a
high crowned hat, a bone which ferves them
for an awl in making ir, a little piece of touch-
wood for kindling a tire, a pica net, in which
they put their fruit and feeds, another in the
fiiape of a purfe or bag, faftened to a kind
of prong acrofs their fhoulders, in which they
carry their children, and laftly, their bow and
arrows ; to which fome, w^ho alfedl elegancy,
add a fliell for drinking. Thole who live near
the coafts have alfo nets for fi.fhing. This
furniture the women carry, when they remove
from one place to another -, the men have only
the bow and arrows v/ith their appurtenances,
as flints and feathers for the arrov/s, and nerves
for the bows. But to fecure them, and at the
fame time, not to incommode them in their
march, they make holes in.fheir ears, where
they
CALIFORNIA. 79
they hang a large cafe which holds every
thing they carry. The men Hkevvife carry a
fmall bit of wood for procuring fire, which
is foon done by rubbing it between their hands.
The men alio carry the boats, but it is the
womens tafk to mend them : they make them
of the bark of trees ; and every part of the
workmanfhip, the Ihaping, joining, and cover-
ing them is admired even by Europeans ; and
they fometimes ufe them for fetching and pre-
fcrving water, and fometimes for roafting their
grains and fruits, but are obliged to keep
them in continual motion, that they may not
burn. Their bowls, cups, and pots, they
ufe for eating and drinking ; and Hkewife the
hats or head pieces worn by the women againft
the feverity of the weather. It feems ftrange,
that they never thought of ufing clay for thefc
utcnfils, by hardening it in the fun or fire ;
but nothing of this was found among them,
they being totally ignorant of any fuch me-
thod, till they were taught it. The men
likewife make the nets for fiOiing, for gather-
ing the fruits, and for carrying the children,
and even thofe worn by the women. But in
this particular, they fhew fuch exquifite flcill;
making them of fo many different colours, fizes,
fuch variety of workmanfhip, that it is not
eafy to defcribe them. Father Taraval fiys,
" I caa
8o HISTORY OF
" I can affirm that of all the nets I ever faw in
Europe and New Spain, none are comparable
to thefe, either in whitenefs, the mixture of
the other colours, ortheftrength and workman-
fnip, in which they reprcfent a vaft variety
of figures." The women however, have fo
far a hand in thefe nets, that they fpin the
very fine thread, which they procure from herbs,
and another coarfer fort of threads from the
palms and mezcales. Of the fine thread they
form the net work for the head, the other
parts being made of a mixture of both forts ;
as are likewife all the other kinds, together
with thofe curious and clofely braided girdles
or fillets, ufcd by the nation of Loretto.
The Edues, or fouthern Pericues, admitted
a pluraHty of wives, who took care of the
fufcenance of the family, and were very dili-
gent in bringing to their hufbands a fufficient
quantity of fruits from the foreft to keep them
in a good temper. For if once they were dif-
carded, which depended wholly on his humour,
few were found who would take them : fo that
the more wives a hufband had, he was fure to
be the better provided for i a particular, which
chiefly contributed to keep up this brutal cuf-
tom. The nation of Loretto were fomething
more moderate, the chief men among them
never exceeding two wives, whilfl the com-
monalty
CALIFORNIA. 8r
tiionalty contented them.feives with one. Adul-
iTery was accounted a crime which juftly called
for revenge, except on two occafions ; one at
their feftivals and routs, and the other at their
wreftling matches amongft: the rancherias ; as
on thefe occafions it was the fcandalous privi-
lege of the viclor. Among the Cochimies of
the north, fcarce any fuch excefs was known :
and a mifTionary, fpeaking of his diflridt, fays,
that amidft the unbounded freedom of thefe
Indians, one does not fee among them any
debauchery or illegal amours : which he at-
tributes to the uncomfortable life they lead
among the mountains in hunger, cold, naked-
nefs, and the want of every thing defirable.
The manner of negociating their marriages
in the nation of Loretto, was to prefent the
bride by way of earneft with a batea or jug,
in their language called olo, made of mezcale
thread. Her acceptance of it denoted her con-
fent : and on her part, ihe was to make her
return in a net for the head ; and this reci-
procation of prefents confirmed the marriage.
In other nations, the agreement was concluded
at the end of a ball, to which the lover in-
vited the whole rancheria -, but after all this
folemnity of the contradl, any flight motive
annulled it ; and even in nations, among
whom polygamy was not allowed. The Ca-
VoL. I. G lifornians
g2 H I S T O R Y O F
lifornians had adopted that abfurdity, whick
is To much laughed at in the accounts of
Brazil, that the women after dehvery, ufed
immediately to go to Tome water and wafli
themfelves and the child ; and in other parti-
culars to obferve no manner of caution, go-
ing to the foreft for wood and food, and per-
forming every other fervice the hufband want-
ed : whilft he in the mean time lay in his cave,
or ftretched at full length under a tree affeft-
ing to be extremely weak and ill ; and this
farce continued for three or four days. Mo-
thers were frequently known to deflroy their
children, in any fcarcity of food, till the ve-
nerable father Salva-Tierra to put a flop to this
unnatural pradice, by ordering, that a double
allowance lliould be given to women newly de-
livered. It was alio an eflablifhed cuflom among
them, like that in the Jewifh law, for the
widow to marry the brother, or neareft rela-
tion of the deceafed.
The time of gathering the pitahayas was
their vintage : and they celebrated it with par-
ticular mirth and rejoicings. " The three pita-
haya months, fays father Salva-Tierra, refemble
the carnaval in fome parts of Europe, when
the men are in a great mcafure ftupified or
mad. The natives here alfo throw alide what
little reafon they have, giving themfelves up
to
CALIFORNIA. 83
to feaftings, dancings, entertainments of the
neighbouring rancherias, buffooneries, and
comedies, fuch as they are : and in thefe, whole
nights are fpent to the high diverfion of the
audience. The adors are felected for their
talent of imitation; and they execute their
parts admirably well." As to their dances,
fays the father, " there is a great variety of
them, and the performers acquit themfelves
with much agility and gracefulnefs. We kept
our Chriftmas here with equal pleafure and de-
votion, fome hundreds of Indian catechumens
being prefcnt, and above one hundred chil-
dren performed their dances. Thefe are very
different from thofeof the nations of the other
coaft, they having above thirty of them repre-
fenting fome effential part of their military
difcipline, fifliery, travelling, burying, hunt-
ing, marrying, and the like : and a child of
three or four years old will fliew as much joy
at his having performed his part well, as young
men of warm emulation and judgment j a par-
ticular, with which we were very much enter-
tained, and could not forbear admiring."
As pradice naturally produces perfe(5lion,
their excellence in thefe kinds of dances is not
•to be wondered at, it being their whole occu-
pation in time of peace. They dance at their
weddings ; on any good fuccefs in their fifli-
G 2 ing
84 HISTORYOF
ing or hunting ; at the birth of their chit-"
dren ; at a plentiful harveft -, at a vi<5lory over
their enemies, and on any other occafion,
without weighing the importance of it. To
thefe feftivities the rancherias ufually invite one
another ; and likewife often fend challenges for
wreftling, leaping, running, fhooting with their
bow, and trials of ftrength j and in thefe and
the like fports, days and nights, weeks and
months were often fpent in times of peace.
But thefe tranquil feafons were fubjefl to fre-
quent interruptions by v/ars, factions, and
feuds of fome nations and rancherias againft
others. The end of thefe commotions was not
the acqviifition of fame, or the enlarge-
ment of their territories, but ufually in revenge
for affronts, or injureis among private perfons :
or fometimes they arofe from more fubftan-
tial caufes, when a rancheria or nation went
to filh, hunt, or gather fruits, where another
bad a kind of right by prefcription. The man-
ner of revenge was to commit fome hoftility,
or do fom,e damage to the perfon chiefly of-
fending i or, if he was beyond their power, to
do it to his kindred or rancheria : after this all
made the caufe their own : and if they did not
think themfelves able to give battle to their
enemies, they applied to other rancherias with
whom they were in friendlhip for fuccour. The
mail-
CALIFORNIA. 85
tnanner of declaring war was with a frightful
noife, ordering every one to provicle great
quantities of reeds and flints ; taking care that
this declaratiofi flioukl reach their adverfaries,
that by terrifying them, they might obtain the
eafier vidtory : when they came to allien they
fet up a fhouc, and engaged without any re-
gularity, except in reUeving the bodies in the
front, when they gave way, either as quite
fpent, or for want of arrows ; which were made
of reeds, with fharp flints for their points,
but not poifoned ; though .we may fuppofe it
was not from generofity, but their ignorance
of any kind of poifon, no deleterious plant
being as yet known in the whole country.
When the engagement became clofe, they
made ufe of a kind of wooden fpears with the
points fliarpened and hardened in the fire :
and thefe did equal execution, with thofe point-
ed with fl:eel. The vidory was gained not fo
much by addrefs, condud, flrrength, and cou-
rage, as by keeping up their fpirits againft
their innate fear, or infpiring the enemy with
it. Thus their difputes and private injuries
continued to increafe till they became general,
and broke out into a formal war, in which
numbers on both fides were flain, and many
of the rancherias in the fouth have been r.o-
tglly deftroyed by thefe inteftine quarrels, Nor
G 3 are
86 H I S T O R Y O F
are thofe of Loretto and the northern free
from difturbances, but they never carry their re-
venge to fuch excefs, efpecially thofe of the north,
■who are obferved to be of a more noble dif-
pofition and clear underRanding. They are
likewife more mild and fociable ; having little
of the obftinacy and vindidive temper of their
countrymen,
SECT. VII.
Of the ancient religion of the Ca'li-
FORNIANS.
The mofl interelling fubjedl for curiofity,
and which requires the greatell: accuracy and
attention in treating of it, is the ancient reli-
gion of theCalifornians. And the ufe to be made
of fuch refearches in favour of our holy reli-
gion, may be {een in the famous bifhop
Huet's DemonRratio evangelica, where, with
amazing erudition, he enumerates the different
fe(5ls, ancient and modern, of all nations in
the world, to increafe, from their darknefs, the
liiftre of the chriftian difpenfation. On the
other hand a faithful reprefentation of the iha-
dow of death, in which thefe Indians lay
jmmerfed, will heighten the greatnefs of the
divine goodnefs, in bringing them into the
bofom of his church, and leading them in the
way
CALIFORNIA. S;
way to happinefs, from their total ignorance
of religion j which was even attended with
many temporal evils. Thefe accounts may fur-
ther be compared with thofe, which the curi-
ous are already poffelTed of, relating to the
feds and religion, no: only of the Mexicans,
Peruvians, and other inhabitants of America,
but of the mofl eaftern nations of Afia, the
Japonefe, Chinefe, Tartars, Corees, Manchees,
the people of Kamfchatka, and Jacukt. This
is however one of the articles, where no pof-
fible attention can give entire fatisfacflion ; but
will leave many uncertainties and imperfec-
tions.
All relations agree, that hitherto no idolatry
has been found among the Californians. They
neither worfhipped any creatures, nor had any
reprefentations, or images of falfe deities, to
whom they paid any kind of adoration. Nor
had they among them any temples, oratories,
altars, or any other place fet apart for religious
exercifes. Indeed no fuch thing was known
there, no outward profefiion of religion in
feftivals, prayers, vows, expiations, or any
publick or private marks of addreffes being
made to God, or even of any knowledge of
him -, fo that they did not diftinguilTi them-
felves in the leaft from the favage, and deplor^
able blindnefs of their neighbours, the Indians
G 4 in
88 H I S T O R Y O F
in the oppofite coaft of Cinaloa, of whom
father Rivas fays, thatfcarce any trace of religion
was to be found among them, nor did their
external performances fhew the leaft know-
ledge of God. The accounts however, men-
tion, that there was among them a feries of
Ipeculative tenets, which muft furprife the
reader. For they not only had an idea of the
unity and nature of God as a pure fpirit, and
likevvife of other fpiritual beings ; but alfo fome
faint glimmerings of the Trinity ; the eternal
generation of the logos, and other articles
of the Chriftian religion, though mixed with
a thoufand abfurdities. And this light was fo
clear in them, that fome mifTionaries have been
induced to think, that they were defcended
from a people which had formerly been chri-
ftians. In thefe tenets however, there was
fome difierence among the principal nations,
and that the reader may have the better idea of
them, I fhall faithfully copy fome fragments
of narratives v/hich I have in my hands.
One of the mifiionaries fpeaking of the-
fouthern Edues or Pericues, gives the fol-
lowing account of their religious principles.
There is, fliy they, in heaven, a lord of great
power, called Niparaya, who made the earth
and the fea j gives food to all creatures ; cre-
ated the trees and every thing we fee ; and can
do
CALIFORNIA. Sg
do whatfoever he pleafes. We don't fee him,
becaufe he has no body as we have. This
Niparaya has a wife called Anayicoyondi : and
though he makes no ufe of her, as having no
body, he has had three fons : Of thefe one is
Quaayayp, i.e. man; and Anayicoyondi
was delivered of him in the mountains of Aca-
ragui ; though others fay, that it was among
fome red mountains in the road from San Jago
de los Coras, and which they call Cunimniici.
Quaayayp has been with them (the fouthern
Indians) and taught them. He was very pow-
erful, and had a great number of men : for
he went into the earth, and brought people
from thence. At length the Indians through ha-
tred killed him : and at the fame time put a
wreath of thorns on his head. He is dead to
this day ♦, but remains very beautiful, and with-
out any corruption. Blood is continually run-
ning from him : he does not fpeak as being
dead ; but he has a tecolote or ovA which fpeaks
to him. They further fay, that in heaven there
are many more inhabitants than on earth : and
that formerly there were great wars in that
place : a perfon of eminent power, whom fome
learned men call Wac, and others Tuparan rofe
upagainft thefupreme lord Niparaya, and being
joined by numerous adherents dared to ftand a
battle with him. But was totally defeated
by
90 HISTORYOF
by Niparaya, who immediately deprived Wac
Tuparan of all his power, his fine pitahayas,
and his other provifions ; turned him out of
heaven, and confined him and his followers in
a vaft cave under the earth : and created the
whales in the Tea to be as guards, that they
Ihould not leave their place of confinement.
They add, that the fupreme lord Niparaya does
not love that people fhould fight ; and that
thofe who die by an arrow or fpear do not ,go
to heaven. But on the contrary Wac Tuparan
wifiies that all people were continually fighting;
becaufe all who are killed in battle go to his
cave. There are two parties among the Indi-
ans ; one Tiding with Niparaya, and are a ferious
difcreet people, open to conviftion, and readi-
ly liften to the chriftian truths which are in-
forced upon them from their own tenets. The
other party is that devoted to Wac Tuparan i
and are of very perverfe difpofitions, forcer-
ers, and unfortunately very numerous. Thefe
partifans of Wac Tuparan have feveral opinions
peculiar to themfelves, and entirely monftrous :
as that the liars are fhining pieces of metal ;
that the moon was created by Cucunumic, the
ftars by Purutabui, and the like. Hitherto
from the narratives of the dogmas of the Edues
cr Pericues, the tenets of the Loretto nati-
on, which is an alTemblage of Laymones,
Monquies,
CALIFORNIA. 91
Monquies, Vehities, and Guacuros -, living, as
we have already obferved, in the middle part of
California, are fufficiently explained in the fol-
lowing fragment. They have no word in their
language fignifying heaven, but they exprefs
it by the general word notu, which fignifies
above or high. They alfo fay, that in the
north part of heaven lives the fpirit of fpirits,
which they call Gumongo: he fends peftiJences
and fickneffes, and in former ages fent down
to vifit the earth another fpirit, to whom they
give the name of Guyiaguai. He was no
fooner come, than he began to fow the land
with pitahayas, the moll common fruit in Ca-
lifornia ; and likewife made the creeks along
the coafl of the gulf, till he came to a vaft
ftone in a very fpacious creek near Loretto,
called by the Spaniards Puerto Efcondido, where
he redded for fome time. Here the other in-
ferior fpirits, his attendants, ufed to bring him
pitahayas to eat, and filh which they caught
in the creek. Guyiaguai's occupation was to
make veftments for his priefts, who, in their
language are called dicuinochos, of the hides
which were offered to him. After fome time
Guyiaguai continued his vifitation, fowing
pitahayas, and making creeks along all the
coaft of the Loretto nation -, and, as a memo-
rial, left a painted table, which the dicuino-
chos
52 HISTORY OF
chos or priefts make ufe of at their entertain-
ments. They add, that the fun, moon, and
the morning and evening ftars were men and
women -, that every night they fell into the
weftern fea, whence they are under a necefiity
of fwimming out by the way of the eaft : that
the other ftars were lights made in heaven by
that vifiting fpirit and his attendants ; and
that though they became quenched by the
fea water, he went toward the eaft to light them
again. It would be very tedious to enter into a
further detail of the many abfurdities of the
fame kind, which were impofed on this un-
happy people by their ftupid or defigning
priefts.
The nation of the Cochimies is not only the
moft numerous and extended, but they have like-
wife the beft genius, and lefs extravagant opinions,
and brutality in their cuftoms ; their behaviour
is remarkably courteous, and they never break
their word. " They believe, fays a miftionary,
that there is in heaven a lord, whofe name in
their language fignifies be who lives ; that
without a mother he had a fon, to whom they
give two names : one of which imports per-
fedion or end of clay ; the other fignifies the
fwift. Befides him they fay there is another,
whofe name is, he who makes lords ; though
they give the name of lord to ail the three i
yet
CALIFORNIA. 93
yet when afl<:ed how many lords there are,
they anfwer one, who made the heaven,
the earth, the animals, the trees and fruits,
alfo man and woman. They likewife have
fome notion of devils, faying that the great
lord, called he who lives, created certain
beings who are not feen, who revolted againft
him, and are enemies both of him and man-
kind : to thefe they give the name of lyars,
enfnarers, or feducers. They add that when
men die, thefe deceivers come and bury them,
that they may not fee the lord who lives."
Thefe and fome others of the fame kind were
the tenets of the Cochimies ; which I could
wifh to relate at length, being confident that
the converted Indians had no defign of im-
pofing on the mifTionaries in teJling them that
before their converfion they held opinions in,
fome refpefts the fame with thofe I have jult
related. I could likewife wifii that I was able
to write them in the very words of their lan-
guages, with their true and accurate fignifica-
tion, as from thence we might judge whether
it is not reafonable to conclude, that fome
ftorm or other accident carried to the coafts
of California, fome Europeans or inhabitants
of the Philippines, of whom no memory now
exifls among the Indians ; and thefe finding
themfelves among barbarians, endeavoured to
inftill
94 H I S T O R Y O F
inflill into them the myfteries of the chrlftldrt
religion ; and that thofe inflrudions, in procefs
of time, became more and more disfigured,
till the arrival of the miflionaries. It is now
above two centuries fmce the coaft of Cali-
fornia has been vifited by Europeans ; the
inhabitants of Mexico from the weftern coaft
of New Spain, have frequented the gulf of
California to fifli for pearls ; and others have
arrived at the weftern coaft by the way of the
South fea. And therefore among a variety of
accidents, either as punifhment, or from mif-
fortune, one or more may have been obliged
to remain among the Indians. It is known
that feme fiiips have left Mulattoes and Mefti-
zos at Cape San Lucas. Father Juan de Torque-
mada tells us, that the Californians fhewed no
manner of furprife at the fight of negroes, there
being fome of that caft among them, the race
of thofe who had been left by a fhip from the
Philippine idands. The fame author mentions
the adventure of the pilot Morera, who, being
left on fliore near Cape Mendozino, by the fa-
mous navigator fir Francis Drake, after fome
years, fortunately arrived at the mine-garrifon
of Sombrerete ; the like accounts are to be met
with in ancient narratives : and fo lately as the
year 1741, the Ruffians were obliged to leave
on the fame coaft of America, and at a higher
latitude,
CALIFORNIA. 95
Jatkude, part of a fhip's company who had
failed on a difcovery * : all which gives room
to believe, that fome Europeans, under a fimi-
lar difafter, had not the fame good for-
tune to arrive at a country peopled with Euro-
peans, after wandering over vaft trafls inha-
bited by barbarians : but on the contrary,
were obliged to pafs the remainder of their
days among them. And what regard and au-
thority would not an European of any tolerable
capacity, acquire among fuch a ftupid race.
But till we can produce fads fufficient to clear
up thefe points, we fhall pafs to other particu-
lars lefs fubjeft to doubts and uncertainties.
Their cdues or priells were what might be
expefted from this fliadow or imitation of re-
ligion, lliefe edues were called by the name
of their two feels, Tuparan and Niparaya :
thofe of Loretto called them Dicuinochos, and
the Cochimies Vamas or Guafmas. In the nar-
ratives they are frequently called Hechiceros or
forcerers ; and in conformity to them, we fhall
alfo make ufe of the fame name. But it is not
therefore to be thought that thefe poor crea-
tures had any commerce, or entered into a
compact with apoflate fpirits, or that they re-
ceived any inftruftions from them, as they au-
dacioully declared, and were too readily be-
• Sec Part. iv. append. 7 of this work,
2 lieved.
^6 HISTORY OF
lieved, not only by Indians, but likewife by
fome Europeans. It is known that the fame
extravagant credulity oblained here, which not
long fince deluged the old world, with regard
to the ancient pagan oracles. But the moft fa-
gacious miflionaries, after plain and convincing
proofs, affirmed them to be arrant impoftors
and cheats, pretending to hold intelligence with
thofe fpirits, the exiftence of which as we have
obferved, was believed by the Californians.
This fuppofitious commerce with fpirits, or
even with the devil himfelf, procured them
great authority among that fimple people ; and
this reverence they ftrengthened by certain ce-
remonies and gefhures; and the introduftion of
many myftical rites. The whole intention of
their deceits was intereft, the people imagining
that fuccefs was to be acquired, and calamities
prevented by bringing them the beft of the
fruits they gathered, and of what they catched
in fifhing or hunting. This was a principle
carefully inculcated into them, the Hechiceros
fometirnes thundering out threatenings of fick-
nefs, difafter, and failure of harvefts : at other
tim.es perfuading them to give liberally, by
feeding them with magnificent hopes of afflu-
ence and the moft defirable enjoyments. For
they affirmed that they were pofleiTed of know-
ledge and power fufficienc to accompliffi all
this
CALIFORNIA. 97
this, by means of their friendfhip and inter-
courfe with the invifible fpirits. What alfo
ftrengthened this authority was their being the
only phyficians from whom they could hope to
be reheved in their pains and diflempers : and
whatever was the medicine, it was always ad-
miniftered with great oftentation and folemnity.
One was very remarkable, and the good effedt
it fometimes produced, heightened the reputa-
tion of the phyfician. They applied to the
fuffering part of the patient's body the chacu-
aco, or a tube formed out of a very hard black
{tone, and through this they fometimes fucked,
and other times blew, but both as hard as they
were able, fuppofing that thus the difeafe was
either exhaled or difperfed. Sometimes the
tube was filled with cimarron or wild tobacco
lighted, and here they either fucked in, or
blew down the fmoke, according to the phyfi-
cian's diredion: and this powerful cauflick
fometimes, without any other remedy, has been
known entirely to remove the diforder. In the
other tranfaflions of life, the Hechiceros prac-
tifed variety of deceits, and pretended to an un-
limited power : and it was no difficult tafls. to
gain an abfolute afcendant over thele poor peo-
ple, whofe ftupidity and ignorance opened
fo wide a door to their infeparable companions
timidity and fupsrflition.
Vol.. I. H The
9^ HISTORYOF
The Indians of the nation of Loretto "had
fchools, whereby thefe profelTors inftrudted
their youths in the above opinions, and fome
other needlefs puerilities : but recommended to
them as truths of great importance. In or-
der to this, their pupils attended them to
caves or folitary places, at a diftance from the
woods : and there they taught them to form
certain figures on tablets, and when perfect in
thefe^ they were taught others as children in
our fchools are taught to write. This remained
a fecret for fome years, till the reverend father
Juan Maria de Salva-Tierra, obferved that
when the time of gathering the pitahayas ar-
rived, all the boys about the garrifon of Lo*
retto fuddenly difappeared, and from one of
thefe he drew the fecret \ but not without many
artifices : for notwithftanding the ftupidity in
which they are brought up, they can on occa-
fion difiemble and be referved : for fiJence is
one of their profefTions.
But the authority of the Californian priefls
on no occafion appears with fuch fplendour as
on the publick feafts, celebrated by a whole
nation, or a fingle rancheria, or family.
There are no facrifices, nor any other ceremony
which has the leaft appearance of worfhip,
•either of the Divinity, or thofe fpirits they have,
fome confufed idea of j but the whole confilb in
eating
I
CALIFORNIA. 99
eating, drinking, dancing, talking, and laugh-
ing. However the prefcnce of the priefts makes
them confidered as rehgious folemnities : for
they indeed ad the chief part, and drefs them-
felves in their habits of ceremony, which are
pnly ufed on extraordinary occafions. This con-
lifts of a large cloak covering them from their
head to their feet, and entirely compofed of hu-
man hair. Their head is adorned with a very
high plumage made of the feathers of hawks,
and in their hands they hold a monftrous fan
formed out of the larger feathers. The fouthern
Edues, when they cannot procure feathers,
adorn, or indeed rather disfigure, the head with
the tails of deers, and the Cochimes add two
ftrings of the hoofs of the fame beaft ; one as
a chain round the neck, and the other as a
girdle. The ridiculoufnefs of the garb is flill
heightened by daubing their bodies over with
red, black, and different colours j fo that the
reader's own fancy will eafily reprefent what
figures they muft make. Thefe open the enter-
tainment with fucking the chacuaco, till they
are become frantick and almoft drunk with the
fmoke. Thus intoxicated, they begin the ora-
tion on their tenets, which is delivered with
wild geft:u res and fr ightful vociferations. They
pretend themfelves to be infpired by thofe fpirits
which the nation acknowledges, and in their
H 2 name
loo HISTORY OF
name denounce to them whatever their frenzy
or interefl fuggefls. To give the greater
weight to their embafiy, they fometimes pre-
tended that they were the very fpirits in which
they beheved : at others that they had been in
heaven and converfed with the deities : and to
prove it produced the fiefh of a deer, or a piece
of fkin and an herb, with which they faid i?
was in their power to Idll whom they pleafed.
But their mod ufual device was to hold up in
their hands fome little tablets of wood made
with great labour, for want of iron tools of
mefquite, or another hard wood called Una de
Gato, on which were painted fome grotefque
figures, affirmed to be the true copy of the
table, which the vifiting fpirit left with them
at his departure to heaven : and thefe figures
were the fame which the Loretto profeflbrs
taught the boys at their private academy.
Whilll thefe frantick preachers were haranguing,
the others were feafting and dancing, and being
inflamed by gluttony, intemperance, and danc-
ing, the whole concluded in the moft abomina-
ble gratification of their appetites, all mingling
indifcriminately, as if determined to violate
every principle of fiiame, reafon, and modefty.
Though thefe feafts were often without any
neceffary motive ; yet thofe made at the gather-
ing of the pitahayas, for a Vidlory, for the dif-
tributioft
CALIFORNIA. loi
tribution of the captures of filh, and the deer
flcins, greatly furpafied the others in folemnity :
but that on boring the ears and ncftrils of the
children exceeded all. To thefe all the women
and men reforted : the ornament of wearing
pearls from their noflrils to their ears being
common to both fexes. The flirieks of the chil-
dren on thefe occafions, incited the fathers to
greater and louder fhouts, in order to fupprefs
any fympathy with the cries and tears of their
■^children. At thefe feafts, the prielts or im-
poftors, did not omit exercifing that authority
which they owe to the fear of the people, cele-
brating, according to their private pafllons,
fome as brave and generous ; upbraiding others
as cowards, faftious, and wicked, and even en-
join them certain penances ; the moft cuflomary
of which was falling or abflinence j laying their
commands on them to forbear for a certain
time to tafteof this or that fruit, fifl-i, or bead.
Sometimes a whole rancheria came under the
fentence, when they were either to fail alter^
nately, or every one was enjoined to abftain
from fome particular thing : fo that the faft
might be general. This was not the only me-
thod of chaftifing them ; they alfo ordered
them to clear ways along the higheft moun-
tains, for the more eafy dcfcent of the vifiting
fpirit when it came to fee them. And at cer-
H 3 tm
I02 HISTORYOF
tain diftances to lay a heap of ftones where it
might ftop and reft itfelf. But what cannot
be read without horror, is, that thefe inhuman
impoftors fometimes even ordered them to
throw themfelves down from a precipice : and
though they muft neceflarily be dafhed to
pieces, fuch was the blindnefs and dread of
thefe poor creatures, that it was very feldom
their orders failed of being executed, either
willingly or by force. Befides this the hechi-
ceros raifed contributions on all, by means of
two tributes : and thefe were paid with a punc-
tual willingnefs. The firft was the beft df
their fruits and captures at hunting and fifli-
ing ; the fecond, the tribute of hair, of which
were made the cloaks of ceremony ufed only at
their folemnities ; and which with their other
ornaments were committed to the care of a par-
ticular perfon, who was to keep them in a re-
mote and private place. This tribute the
children paid in return for their inftruclion, and
the adult, who had been fick, if they recovered,
in gratitude for their cure -, and if not, for their
care after death : for the Californians are not
forfaken by their priefts ; on the contrary, they
redouble their cares, and extend them to the
whole rancheria ; but when the diftemper ar-
rives at fqch a height, that herbs, juices, the chi-
cuaco, and fimarron or tobacco, avail nothing,
they
CALIFORNIA. 103
they aflemble all the patient's relations, that
he might die with the greater uneafinefs. In
the firfl place, if the patient have a daughter
or fifter, they cut off the little finger of her
right hand, pretending thereby that the blood
either faved the patient, or at leaft removed
from the family all forrow for his death ; but
was in reality an additional caufe of pain and
grief: then followed the vifits from the whole
rancheria, who, after talking to him, and being
acquainted with his defperate condition, fet up a
confufed howling •, fometimes covering their face
with their hands and their hair, and repeating
this ceremony from time to time divided into fe-
parate companies •, and all in the prefence of the
dying perfon. The women increafed the horror
of thefe howlings with paffionate cries and excla-
mations, fetting forth the merits of the patient,
in order to move the greater compaflion. The
howling being over, the patient requefts the
company to fuck and blow him in the fame
manner as the phyficians had done : and this
Jaft friendly office is performed by every one ;
fucking and blowing firft the part affefted, and
afterwards all the other organs of the fenfes
with the utmoft force they are capable of ; as
this and the force of the cries indicates their de^
gree of affetflion for the deceafed. In the meaii
H 4 time
I®4 H I S T O R Y O F
time, thedodtors thruft their hands into the pa-
tient's mouth, pretending to pluck death for-
cibly out of his body. The women ftili con-
tinuing their outcries, give the patient many
fevere ftrokes, in order to awake him, till be-
twixt one uneafinefs and another they deprive
him of life : and as foon as he is found fenfe^
lefs, they immediately proceed to bury or burn
him, making no difference, but chufmg the
mod convenient. The funerals are immedi-
ately performed without any preparations,
amidfl a continuance of the fame bowlings, and
without any Angularity, only burying or burnr
ing with the patient all his utenfils. So little
did they enquire into the reality of his death,
previoully to the burning or interment, that
one day father Salva-Tierra, being near San
Juan de Londo, and hearing the lamentations
and feeing the fire, haftened to the fpot,
where he found them juft going to burn a man,
who by his motions he could perceive to have
ftill fome remains of life. He fnatched him
from the fire, and in time recovered him, re-
proving their inconfideratenefs and barbarity.
Thus have I given a brief detail of the reli-
gion of the ancient Californians. In theiflands
formed by the channel of Santa Barbara, along
the weftern coafl, which was difcovered by
general Vifcaino ; an4 in otherg at a fmall dif-
tance
CALIFORNIA. 105
tance from thefe, vifited in 1733, by father
Taraval, who called them de los Dolores,
there is fome difference in religious affairs,
which I fhall relate in the very words of the
author. Father Torquemada, fpeaking of the
ifland of San Catherine, fays, "•' In this ifland
are feveral rancherias or communities, and in
them a temple with a large level court, where
they perform their facrifices 5 and in one, the
place of the altar, was a large circular fpace,
with an inclofure of feathers of feveral birds of
different colours, which I underflood were
thofe of the birds they facrificed in great num-
bers : and within the circle was an image,
ftrangely bedaubed with a variety of colours,
reprefenting feme devil, according to the man-
ner of the Indians of New Spain, holding in
its hand a figure of the fpn and moon. It
happened that when the foldiers came to fee
this temple, they found within the faid circle
two crows, confiderably bigger than ordinary :
and at the approach of the Spaniards they flew
away, but alighted among the roclvs in the
neighbourhood : and the foldiers feeing them
of fuch an uncommon largenefs, fired their
pieces and killed them. At this, an Indian
who had attended the Spaniards as a guide, fell
into a perfeft agony -, I was informed that they
|)elj^ye4 the devil fpoke to them in thefe crows,
and
jc6 HISTORY OF
a^nd thence beheld them with grestt veneration.
Some time after, one of the religious going
that way, faw fome Indian women wafhing fifli
along the fhore, in order to drefs them for their
families ; but fome crows came up to them,
and with their beek took the fifh from their
hands, whilft they obferved a profound filence,
i!6t daring fo much as to look at them, much
lefs frighten them away. Nothing therefore
could appear more horrible to the Californians,
than that the Spaniards Ihould Ihoot at thefe
refpcdlable birds." Father Taraval, in the ma-
fiufcript account of his voyage and difcoveries
in the year 1732, fays of the ifland de la Tri-
nidad, '* That the governor was likewife its^
prieft, i. e. forcerer or hechicero, though he
had others fub ordinate to him : fo that every
community had its civil and fpiritual officer.
On their heads they wore fuch a grotefque va-
riety of things, as at once moved pity and
laughter. His decalogue was as follows,
* That they fhould not eat of their fiifl hunting
6t fiihing, under pain of being difqualified
from hunting or fifhing hereafter. 2d, That
they Ihould not eat of fome certain filh, 3d,
That they fhould forbear eating fome particular
parts of the game, and thefe were the beft and
fatteft, faying, that this fat was that of dead
old men j and that by eating it old age woulcj
imme-
CALIFORNIA; 107
immediately come upon them. Thus the befb
pieces fell to the ihare of the old hechiceros,
alledging, that as they were already advanced
in years, they had nothing to fear on this
head. 4. That they fhould not gather certain
fruits, nor take fome fpecies of fifh (and both
of thefe were the beft) as they would do them a
great deal of hurt j but that nothing injured
old people. 5. That if they caught any flag or
fi(h of an extraordinary fize, not to offer to eat
it, as belonging to the hechiceros. 6. That
they ihould not look at the feven ftars, as
they would thereby draw on themfelves many
misfortunes and calamities. 7. That they
fliould not look towards the iflands of the
north ; for that whoever flood and looked at
them, would fall fick and die without remedy.
S. That they fhould be mindful of their ancef-
tors, and make feafts in commemoration of
them. 9, That in very hot weather, all fhould
come out and pay their falutations to the fun,
who would not then molell them in their hunt-
ings and fifhings ; but on the contrary render
every undertaking profperous. 10. That they
fhould believe in their hechiceros : but this was
too difficult a tafk ; for no fooner were they
returned to the miffion, than they began to
laugh at fuch abfurdities.' His articles of be-
lief were of a piece with his precepts. The prin-
cipal
w*
io8 H I S T O R Y O F
cipal deity was the demon, in honour of
whom fome feftivals were celebrated. The
chief reafon brought for thefe entertainments to
his honour was, becaufe the forcerers told
them, that it was the demon who had given
them, and would continue to give them chil-
dren. Thefe feafts were in a manner required
by their deity. Others they made in honour of
their anceftors, on whom they conferred the
fame name as on the demons. The form of
his apotheofis or canonization, was as follows :
the hero of the folemnity was reprefented by
the branches of feveral trees, placed on an emi-
nence-, after which they danced before this
image, and then imagined him completely
canonized .
Their pontificalia ufed on thefe occafions,
were firft a wig as long as a canon's cope, made
of the votive hair of fick perfons. Round their
neck they wore a firing of deers feet, and ano-
ther as a girdle round their wailte. In their
hands they held a large fan compofed of a great
variety of feathers, and a tube m^de of a very
hard flone, for fucking the patients in the
manner formerly defcribed. All the particulars,
except the hairs and the tube, are entirely dif-
ferent from thofe rites of the Californians ;
which I have on that account mentioned, omit-
ting other things which obtain among both.'"
Though
CALIFORNIA. 109
Though the iflands and trafls to which thefe
accounts relate, have little correfpondence and
^intercourfe, yet they are within fight of one
another. In fuch a vicinity, it is furprifmg
there fhould be fo remarkable a difference in fo
eflential a point as religion. But fo I find it
in the narrative, which however I do not pre-
tend to impofe upon the reader as an incontefti-
ble authority.
A
NATURAL and CIVIL
HISTORY
O F
CALIFORNIA.
PART IL
Account of California till the
firft arrival of the Jefuits.
SECT. L
The firft accounts of the Pacifick or
South-fea.
IT Is furprifing that during the courfe of fo
many ages, the globe which we inhabit
fhould be fo imperfedlly known : and that
fome of the human fpecies fhould have known
nothing of others inhabiting the fame. The 1 5th
century is juftly diftinguifhed in Europe, for
the firft revival of arts and fciences : and
among the confequences of that revival, it has
the honour of reckoning the difcovery of coun-
tries, the great extent of which entitled it to be
called the new world. Spain being now freed
from the dominion of the Moors, and the whole
country
ti2 HISTORY OF
country united in two kingdoms ; thofe of
Caftile and Portugal, not only employed its
vidlorious arms in Europe and Africa, but like-
wife fent its fleets on the ocean, which had
been till then fo much dreaded. The Eaft
Indies, whofe riches had filled Europe with
their fame, from the moft remote antiquity, in
that century acquired additional reputation
from the rich commerce of its produds and
manufactures, carried on from the Levant by
the Venetians, Genoefe, and Florentines. The
ancient geographers alfo, efpecially the Greeks,
which now began to be read, together with the
accounts of Marco Paulo, a Venetian and other
travellers ; and likewife the relations of fome
natives of thofe countries who came into
Europe, and whofe difcretion and probity left
no room to queftion their veracity, added an
additional glory to that country. But though
more folid proofs of the riches of India, together
with its fpices and other goods were brought into
Europe, not only the conqueff, but even an im-
mediate commerce was impradbicable to the
Europeans, who, knowing of no way thither by
fea, v/ere under a neceffity of carrying on the
traffick for eaftern goods with the Mahometans,
as being mailers of all the interjacent countries.
The Portuguefe, who with inconceivable bold-
nefs and perfeverance had difcovered and fur-
veyed
CALIFORNIA. 113
Veyed the weftern coaft of Africa, as far as
Guinea, and from thence to the Cape of Good
Hope, did not doubt but they fhould at laft
find a fecure pafTage through the ocean to India.
In confidence of this, in the year 1487, they
fent feveral perfons by land to acquaint them-
felves with the eaftern countries ; and efpecially
thofe of Prefter- John, a prince reputed to be very
powerful and a chriftian. They likewife foli-
cited the pope for a perpetual grant of all the
land which fhould be difcovered in the ocean
from Cape Boxador to India inclufively.
Whilft the Portuguefe were employed in
feeking an eaftern pafTage to India, the kings
of Caftile who had made themfelves mafters of
feveral iflands in the ocean, and profecuted
their claims to the conquefl of Guinea, fent
Chriflopher Columbus, on the difcovery of
new countries to the weftward, he having pro-
pofed to find a new and fhorter way to India
and the Spice iflands. In eife6V, this wonder- •
ful man, either from the reading ancient au-
thors, or the papers of a certain pilot, ei-
ther knew, or formed a conjedlure that there
were fome countries or iflands to the wefl of
the Canaries or Azores : yet he little thought
that India was at fo great a diftance from the
extreme coafls of Africa and Spain. On the
contrary, from the authority of ancient geo-
Vox.. I. I graphers
114 HISTORYOF
graphers and philofophers, he concluded that
the terraqueous globe was much lefs than in
reality it is ; that the pafTage from Spain to
India, was not long in itfelf ; and that by this
way, he IhoUld much fooner reach Cathay,
and the ifland of Cipango, of which Marco
Paulo, the Venetian, gives fuch an alluring
defcription. Accordingly he made the offer to
the kings of Portugal and England, but was
difappointed at both courts : this and the maps
of Paulo Phyfico, the Florentine, to whom he
communicated his thoughts, who confirmed
him in his plan, may be feen in the hiftory of
this great man, written by his fon Fernando
Columbus, the worthy hiftorian of fuch a fa-
ther. Afterwards in the year 1492, Columbus
failed a new courfe, and after difcovering the
iflands of Lucaya, Cuba, Hifpaniola, and
others, he returned to Spain, and with unpa-
ralleled glory entered Lifbon on the 4th of
March 1493, Don Juan III. king of Por-
tugal, as became a prince of his religion and
generofity, not only rejecfted with indignation
the propofal of fome great men among the Por*
tuguefe, to put this illuftrious navigator to
death, but conferred great honours on him.
However on a fuppofition that the iflands dif-
covered lay within the dominion granted him
by the pope, he tranfmitted a fpirited com-
plaint
CALIFORNIA. 115
plaint to the king of Caflile, and ordered a
fleet to be fitted out, and fent to thofe parts.
The king of Caftile found means to fufpend
this refolution ; and in the mean time, the in-
comparable queen Ifabella, procured a brief
from pope Alexander VI. granting to her king-
doms of Caftile and Leon, any difcoveries
made by her fubjedls : and it was the fame
pope, who, to avoid injuring the Portuguefe,
made the famous divifion of the world between
thefe two kingdoms, by a line of demarcation
drawn north and fouth 100 leagues weft of
Cape de Verd, and the Azores, This expe-
dient not fatisfying the king of Portugal, their
catholick majefties, with the confent of the
pope, by a treaty made at Tordefillas in 1494,
removed the line of demarcation 270 leagues
farther weft of the faid Cape and iflands.
On the conclufion of this treaty, admiral
Columbus, and other Spaniards profecuted
their difcoveries, the extent and richnefs of
which, only ferved to inflame the thirft after
the treafures of the Eaft Indies, of which fuch
magnificent accounts were current all over
Europe. What increafed it even -more, was
the arrival at Lift)on in the year 1499, ^^
the great Vafco de Gama, from his fuccefsful
difcovery of India, being the firft who ventured
to double the Cape of Good Hope -, and thuj
J ?' opened
ti6 HISTORYOF
opened the way to the Eafl: Indies. At thaC
time an opinion prevailed in Spain, that there
was a
ftreio-ht throiig-h which the gulf of
Mexico communicated with another vaft fea to
the fouthward. Admiral Columbus afTured
their catholick majefties, that nothing (hould
be wanting on his part to find it out : and ac-
cordingly in the year 1502, he failed a fourth
time to the weftward, and difcovered the coafts
from the iflands of Los Guanacos, and the gulf
of Honduras beyond Porto Bcllo, without
meeting with any ftreight, as indeed it was im-
poflible he fhould, there being no ftreight there-
abouts, but an ifthmus of land, which has fince
been called the peninfula of Panama. Some
fay that it is to this voyage we owe the firfl ac-
counts of the South fea, whilft, according to
others, thofe coalls had been difcovered three
years before by Vicente Yanez Pinzon, and
Juan Diez de Solis. Fernando Columbus, who
accompanied his father in this voyage, contra-
di(5ls that opinion, and adds, that it was not
till the year 1508, that Pinzon and Solis
coafted along thefe parts, though they endea-
voured to afiiime the honour of beins; the fir(t
difcoverers j and to defraud the admiral of his
ju(t reputation : and to this end altered the
names which he had before given to fome parts.
However this be, it muH be ov/ned that before
'- ■ ■ this
CALIFORNIA. ii;
this fourth and lafl voyage of Columbus, he
had fome knowledge of the South fea, as the
opinion of the (Ireight he went in queft of, though
founded on a mi (lake, fuppofes fuch a fea. This
his fon does not conceal : and it is not impro-
bable that fomc Spaniards, of whom no me-
mory remains, having before coafted along the
gulf of Mexico, either in queft of countries or
gold, they were informed by the inhabitants of
the ifthmus, that on the other fide not far off
was a fea : and this gave rife to the ftory of the
ftreight. However it is certain that thefe con-?^
fufed and ambiguous apcounts were the firll
we had of the South fea.
This was not the only courfe attempted at
that time to India, by the way of America.
So early as the year 1495, feveral Spaniards,.
Knglifh, Danes, and others *, fteered north-
ward in queft of fuch a pafTage. The like at-
tempt was in vain profecuted during the two
following centuries and a half; and in England
is now carrying on with greater ardour than
ever; though very probably the evejit will be
the fame. A fearch after the jundlion of thefe
leas, was alfo undertaken in another part, with
a perfeverance which at length was crowned
with fuccefs. As Columbus had difcovered in
his third voyage, in the year 1498, the conti-
Aental coaft of Paria towards the fouth, fe-
• See Mr. Ellis's voyage to Hudfon's bay.
1 3 ver§J
lis H I S T O R Y O F
veral Spaniards fitted out Ibips to profecute
thefe difcoveries : among which. Per Alonfo
Ninno, a native of Palos, who, in the year
1599, difcovered Ciimana, and the coalls as
far as Venezuela, and his countryman Vicente
Yanez Pinzon, with Arias Pincon his coufin,
in the year 1500, came to the mouth of
the great river of the Amazons, which is 80
leagues in breadth, and from thence coafting
further along Brafil, and doubling the Cape of
San Augufline, came into the fea, which re-
ceives the river de la Plata \ and gave hopes of
finding that way the fo much defired paffage to
India.
The king of Portugal, likewife with a view
of finding a fhorter pafi^age to that country,
which afforded fuch ineftimable funds for com-
merce, than that lately difcovered by the Cape
of Good iiope, after having in the fame year
1500 ft-nt to the north of America, Gafpar de
Corte Real, who landed on the Tierra de
Labrador, and gave his nam.e to fonic iflands ;
in the following year 1501, fent to the fouth-r
Vv'ard, America Vcfiuifio, a Florentine, who
without the leail reafon, has been fo fortu-
nate as to give name to the fourth part of the
world. This navigator, after pafling the
abovementioned cape of S^.. Augufline in
Brafil advanced to within 40 degrees of the
equi-r
CALIFORNIA. 1.19
<rquinoi5lial ; and thus arrogated to himfelf the
firfl difcovery of that cape and the fca j though
the year before, as we have obferved the Pin-
cones had reached it, unlefs there be in this cafe
the fame fraud, which Columbus's fon com-
plains to have been committed in prejudice of
his father. Other authors attribute the firfl;
difcovery of Brafil to Pedro Alvai'ez Cabrai :
but we fliall detain the reader no longer oij
this fubjedt^
Amidfl: fo many expeditions weftward,
northward, and fouthward ; it was the year
J513 before our parts of the world had any
clear and certain accounts of the South fea.
The firfl European difcoverer of it was Vafco
Nunnez de Balboa, born at Xerez de los Cava-
leros, who being employed in the conqueft of
Darien and the gulf of Uraba, and guided by
the fon of the Cacique Panquiaca, pafled the
.chain of mountains, from whence, with inex-
prefiible pleafure, he had a fight of the South
fca •, and arriving at the Ihore of the gulf,
on Michaelmas-day, he called it by that faint's
name : he was a man worthy of great enco-
miums, as the founder of the vaft difco-
veries in Peru aAd other places, but who, for
his cruelty to the Indians, the God of mercy
puniflied with an unfortunate death. Father
-Majriana fays, that Balboa was a native of
I 4, Badajoz
I30 H I S T O R y O F
Badajoz; but Gomara makes him a gentle-,
man of Xerez de Badajoz, or de los Cava*
Jeros.
About this time, the Portuguefe made a dif-
covery of the Molucca iflands, which lie fo far
eaftward, that the Spaniards laid claim to
them, with all the remaining part of India to-
wards the eaft, as within the hemifphere be-
longing to them, by the demarcation and
treaty of Tordecillas. This renewed the anci-
ent quarrels between the two kingdoms, and
in the mean time, in the year 151 6, Fernando
Magellanes, and Ruy Falero, both Portuguefe,
waited on the great cardinal Ximenez de Cif-
nefes, with a plan for finding a fouthern paf-
fage into the South fea, and through it to the
Molucca, and Spice iflands. After the death of
the cardinal, they laid the like propofal before
king Charles, and with five Ships, failed from
San Lucas in the Year 15 19.
Magellanes fteered towards the fouth, and
having pafied cape St. Auguftine, he run
down along the coaft to that famous ftreight
which retains his name, and, after infinite
difficulties and hazards, made his way through
it into the South fea ; this alfo he happily croflf-
cd, and arrived at the Iflands de los Ladrones,
at prefent called Marianas : from thefe he con-
tinued his qourfe to tjiofe of X^uzon, which have
fin^e
CALIFORNIA. m
fince received the name of Philippines, where he
unfortunately perifhed with fome of his com-
panions. The others continuing their voyage,
came to the Moluccas, and Juan Sebadian del
Cano, a native of Gueitaria in Guipufcoa
mafter of the Ihip Nidoria, returned in the
year 1522, from thence to Spain by the way
of the Cape of Good Hope, having in the
term of three Years, made the firft complete
voyage round the world j and therefore his
fhip, with much more reafon than the Argos,
ought to be placed among the conftellations.
Thus had the South fea been difcovered
near the antar(5tick Pole, and about the equi-
noflial, but the difcovery of it to the north,
was ftill wanting ; an enterprife referved for
Hernando Cortes. This hero had fubdued the
empire of Mexco, and made himfelf mafter
of the capital, on the 13th of Augufl:, 1521.
This was immediately followed by offers of
fubmifTion, from the king of Mechoacan-,
whofe dominions reached to the coaft of the
South fea. Cortes, as he himfelf fays, in a let-
ter written the following year to Charles V.
having had fome knowledge of this fea a little be-
fore, perhaps from the time of Motezuma, and his
thoughts being continually forming new enter-
prifes, with that magnanimity which will al-
ways ecjual him to the Alexanders and Cas-
122 HISTORYOF
fars. He fent Spaniards feveral ways to take a
furvey of the coafts ; and among the momen-
tous cares which employed his mind, he gave
orders for building two Caravelas *. So fan-
guine were his hopes, that he exprelTes them in
the following manner to the emperor : " The
accomplifliment of this your majefty may con-
clude, will be of the greateft reputation and
fervice, of any thing fince the difcovery of the
Indies."
In the mean time, a new, though long and
difficult paflage to the Moluccas, being now dif-
covered in Spain, by the arrival of the fhip
Viftory, and a furvey having been taken of
thefe, and the fituation of the world better de-
termined, the difputes betwixt the kings con-
cerning the right to that part of the Eaft-Indies,
became more inflamed. In the year 1523,
Charles V. ordered feveral officers to go in
fearch of a fuppofed (Ireighr, in the ifthnius ot
Panama. Accordingly, Francifco Hernandez
and Gil Gonzales Davila, looked for it from
that part all along the coaft of the South fea.
The fame year the emperor fent orders to Cortes,
* An old fafiiioned velTcI formerly much ufed among
the Spaniards, very fliarp before, but ill-lhaped, and
the mafts leaning forward. Their Hiils are all triangular,
that they keep nearer the wind, than other lails, but
are not fo commoclioui to hand.
to
CALIFORNIA. 123
to fearch for it in both feas. At that time this
could not be done in the South fea, but on the
fide of the gulf of Mexico, he fent Chriflopher
de Olid, who afterv/ards deferted with five fliips
and a brigantine, that he Ihould go with the cele-
brated Hebueras ; and his coufin Diego Hortado
had three Ihips given him, that together with
Olid, he might take a careful furvcy of the
whole coall, from Yucaton to Darien. In the
year 1524, a congrefs was held at Badajoz, con-
lifting of minifters of ftate, civilians, cofmo-
graphers, and pilots from Spain and Portugal,
relating to the pretenfions of both crowns to the
Moluccas. After two months debating, the
Spanifh judges gave fentence in favour of their
crown, which was protefted againft by the Por-
tuguefe ; thus the congrefs broke up, after
ferving only to widen the breach : And the
two kings quarrelled about what was in a few
years to be, as at prefent it is, the recompence
of the diligence of other nations, and even of
their own revolted rubje<5ls. But not long after,
they came to an agreement, the emperor yield-
ing to the king of Portugal his right to the
Mohiccas, in confideration of thirty-five thou-
fand ducats. Though this accommodation was
ftrongly remonflrated againft, by Pedro Ruiz
de Villegas, a famous fcholar of Burgos, who
afted a capital part in the conferences at Bada-
joz,
124 HISTORY OF
joz, and who was univerfally refpeftcd for his
birth, learning, wifdom, and morals.
The emperor, however, in the fame year
1524, and not in 1525 as Gomara fays, fent
Eftevan Gomez from Corunna to difcover a
paflage to the Moluccas, by the north part pf
America. This he found impradicable, but
he brought home with him fome Indians, and
according to Oviedo, who was then living in
Toledo, he arrived in that city in 1525. The
emperor farther ordered a houfe to be eredled at
Corunna, for the trade to the Spice iflands ; and at
the fame port was fitted out a fleet of (even fhips,
the command of which was given to Don
Frey Gari- Joffre de Loayfa, a commander of
the order of St. John, born at Ciudad Real.
With thefe he put to feain September 1525, in
queft of the flreight of Magellan, in order to
pafs thro' it to the Moluccas. The commander
fafely reached the South fea, but there he
died, and afterwards his fquadron was difabled
from purfuing the enterprife. In the following
year 1526, Charles V. fent Sebaftian Cabot with
four carvels, to go the fame courie to the Mo-
luccas. The end of this expedition was to draw
the trade of the fpice iflands, to Panama or
Nicaragua: but he v;ent no further than the
Rio de la Plata, and returned with as little ad-
vantage as reputation.
SECT,
CALIFORNIA. 125
SECT. II.
Firft difcovery of California, and voy-
ages thither, in the time of Hernan
Cortes.
We have already taken notice, that in the
year 1522, immediately after the conqueft of
Mexico, Cortes acquainted Charles V. that ha-
ving in three different parts difcovered the South
fea, he had given orders for building two car-
vels and two brigantines. To this end he fent
to Zacatula forty Spaniards, carpenters, faw-
yers, blackfmiths, and feamen, and with them,
in a paflage of above two hundred leagues acrofs
New Spain, he caufed to be carried from Vera
Cruz, iron, anchors, fails, cables, rigging,
pilch, tallow, oakum, bitumen, and other na-
val ftores, purchafed there. After all was
fafely arrived at Zacatula, the magazine took
fire, fo that nothing was left except the anchors
and nails. Yet this did not difcourage the firm-
nefs of Cortes. He immediately gave orders
for purchafing and difpatching the neceffary
materials, as he himfelf writes to the emperor,
excufing the flownefs with which the building
of the fhips went on, though the whole was at
his expence, he had to encounter in Spain,
in order to acquire artillery and other
- I ftores.
126 H I S T O R Y O F
ftores, the inflexible oppofition of the archbifhop
of Burgos, prefident of the Indies, and other
men of power, of which however he complains.
The great hopes he conceived of thele fhips,
and the various fchemes of a man, whofe mind
ctherwife mull have beenfufficiently embarrafled
with the new conqueft of fuch vaft dominions,
cannot be better difplayed than by himfelf,
who in a letter to the emperor from Temixtitan
or Mexico, the 15th of October 1524, writes
thus : " I place a value on thefe Ihips beyond
all expreflion, being certain, that with them if
it pleafe God, I fliall be the inftrument of your
Imperial majefty's being in thefe parts, fovereign
of more kingdoms and dominions, than have
been hitherto known in our nation. May he
pleafe to profper it in his good pleafure, that
your Imperial majefty may obtain fuch an un*
paralleled advantage : for I believe that when
I have performed this, your highnefs may be
monarch of the whole world, whenever you
pleafe." In another claufc of the fame letter,
he fays, " In the former claufes, mod potent
lord, I have fpecified to your excellency the
parts whither I have fent people both by land
and fea : with which, under the divine favour,
I believe your majefty will be greatly pleafed.
And as it is my continual care and employment,
to proje6l every poffiblc way of manifeftingand
putting
CALIFORNIA. 127
putting in execution my zeal for the fervice of
your royal majefty ; feeing nothing further is
remaining, but the knowledge of the coaft yet
undifcovered, between the river Panaco and
Florida, furveyed by captain Juan Ponce de
Leon ; and from thence to the northern coaft
of the faid country of Florida, as far as the
Bacallaos : it being certain that on that coaft is
a ftrei^ht running into the South fea : and if
it be found according to a true draught which I
have of that part of the fea, near the Archi-
pelago, which, by your highnefs*s orders, Ma-
gellanes difcovered ; I am of opinion it will
iffue very near it. And if it pleafe our Lord,
that the faid ftreight joins there, the voyage to
the Spice idands will be fo convenient for thefe
your majefty's dominions, that it will be two
thirds ftiorter than the prefent courfe ; and with-
out any hazard to the ftiips in going or coming,
for the voyage will be entirely among the ftates
and countries belonging to your majefty, that
on any neceflity, they may fafely put in where
moft convenient, as in a country belonging to
your majefty, whofe flag they carry. Such are
my thoughts of the great fervice which will re-
fult to your majefty from this ; though I have
been at immenfe expences, and contrafled vaft
debts for the fervice both by fea and land -, for the
horfes and artillery which I have in this city,
and
128 H I S T O R Y O F
and fend to all parts, befides daily incident^,!
charges brought in to me -, for every thing has
been, and is done at my expence. And what
increafes the burden is, that all neceflaries, efpe-
cially naval and military, bear here fuch an
exceflive price, that rich as the country is, the
revenue I can draw from it, will not fufHce for
defraying the vaft expences which I am at. How-
ever, from the profped of the advantages fhewn
in this claufe, 1 poftpone to them any ftreights
I may be reduced to: andnotwithftandinglpro-
teft to your majefty that I raife money for it byway
of loan, yet have I determined to fend three carvels
and two brigantines for this end ; though I
reckon it will cofl me above ten thoufand golden
crowns : and by this fervice, I Ihall crown the
other fervices I have performed : for I look
upon it as the greateft fervice, if the ftreight I
mention be found : and even though it fhould
not be found, there muft of necefiity be difco-
vered very large and rich countries, to the
infinite benefit of your Imperial majefty, and
the augmentation of the kingdoms and domi-
nions of your royal crov/n : and the advantage
of this will be the greater, fuppofing the faid
ftreight be not found, that your highnefs will
be informed that there is no fuch thing ; and
meafures may be taken by which your Imperial
majefty may reap advantage from the Spice
countries
CALIFORNIA. 129
Countries and all others near them. And I
myfelf offer to your highnef<;, if you will be
pleafcd to put the affair into my hands, in the
want of fuch a ftreight, I wilt point out a way
by which your majeity will rt-ap great advan-
tage. God grant that the fquadron may com-
pafs the end for which it is defigned, namely,
to difcover the ftreight, which I am fully per-
fuaded they will do. Becaufe in the royal
concerns of your majefty, nothing can be con-
cealed ; and no diligence, or neceffaries fhall
be wanting in me to effect it.
*' Thus I think of fending the fhips which I
have caufed to be built, into the South fea,
that, God willing, they may by the end of
July 1524, fail downwards along the fame
coaft, in queft of the faid ftreight. For if there
be any fuch thing, it muff appear either to thofe
in the South fea, or the others in the North ;
as thofe on the South are to keep the coaft in
fight, till they find the faid ftreight, or that the
land joins with that which was difcovercd by
Magellane : and the other on the North, as I
have faid, till they find the land joins with the
Bacallaos. Thus, on one fide or other, this im-
portant queftion muft be folved. I hereby in-
form your majefty, that by the intelligence I
have received of the countries, on the upper
€oaft of the South fea, the fending of thefe
Vol. L K fnips
130 HISTORYOF
fhips along it, will be attended with great ad-
vantage to me, and no lefs to your majefty.
But acquainted as I am with your majefty's de-
fire of knowing this ftreight, and likewife of
the great fervice the difcovery of it would be to
your royal crown, I have laid afide all other
profits and advantages, of which I have the
moil certain knowledge, in order to follow
entirely this courfe. The Lord direft it accord-
ing to his good pleafure ; and may your majefty
obtain your defire -, and likewife mine of ferving
you."
So far Hernan Cortes ; and I would beg
leave to a(k how the greatefl: monarch could
think otherwife, in a matter of the higheft con-
cern to his glory, treafury, and nation? The
fame year 1524, Cortes had not only fent the
fquadron already mentioned, under Chriftopher
de Olid ', but likewife difpatched two other vef-
lels to take a view of the coails from Pajiama to
Florida, which are the prefent coafts of Mifll-
fippi or Louifiana, in order to fee if he could
meet with another ftreight. Yet is it not known
whether in the three following years till 1527,
Cortes actually put in execution on the fide of
the South fea, his intended fearchforthe imaginary
ftreight in the ifthmus. In which falfe behef,
he was ftrengthened in the year J 523, by Pedro
de Alvarado, who, in his firft memorial, laid
before
CALIFORNIA. 131
before Hernan Cortes, and figned at Udatan
on the nth of April 1523, has the following
words ; " They alfo told me that at' five days
journey beyond a very large city, which is
twenty days journey from hence, this land ter-
minates : and this they pofitively declare. If
fo, it is no quellion with me but this is the
flreight." And as little certainty is there whe-
ther he fought the other on the north fide, by
the Coftas de Bacallaos, or thole of Newfound-
land and Terra del Labrador. PofTibly he could
not accomplifh his defigns : for it was in thofe
years he made that journey to the Hibueras, fo
famous for its fatigues and hardfhips -, and af-
terwards the difturbances in Mexico found him
fufficient employment. It is alfo equally un-
certain, whether at the time he fent the Zacatula
ihips along the upper coafts of the South fea
towards the North. Ail that Cortes affirms is
this, that by the intelligence he had of thofe
countries and coafts, they would prove very ad-
vantageous to him : and in another part of the
the fame letter, he acquaints the emperor with
his preparations for the conquefl: of the pro-
vince of Colina on the South fea : and that the
great men there had given him information of
an ifland of Amazons, or women only, abound-
ing in peaj-ls and gold, lying ten days journey
from Colina : adding, that fgme of the natives
K 2 had
132 HISTORY OF
had a6lually been there, and concluding with
an afilirance that he would make all polTible
enquiry. The ifland of the Amazons was as
chimerical as another province on the river of
the Amazons, deriving its name from them.
The account of the pearls inclines me to think
that thefe were the firft intimations we had of
California and its gulf.
However that be, in June 1526, Charles V.
wrote to Hernan Cortes from Granada, that
he fhould fend the fliips he had at Zacatula in
fearch of the Trinity, one of Magellane's fhips,
and thofe of the two fquadrons of Loayfa and
Cabot ; and to difcover a paflage from New
Spain to the Moluccas, as he promifed in his
letters. The order came to hand, and the ar-
rival of Hortun de Alango at Cuatlan on the
South coaft, having been feparated with his
tender from Loayfa's fquadron, encouraged
him to put it in execution. Accordingly he fitted
out three fhips under Alvaro de Saavedra Ceron,
who failed from Civatlan in Noveniber 1527.
The following year 1528, Cortes came into
Spain, but in the mean time, Saavedra's fqua-
dron was difperfed and loft at the Moluccas.
The emperor, who was then in Spain, con-
ferred great honours on Cortes ; befides the
title of marquis del Valle de Guaxaca, he no-
minated him captain general of New Spain,
and
m
CALIFORNIA. 133
and of the provinces and coafls of the South fea :
and likewife difcoverer and peopkrofthat coafl
and the ifland, with a grant of the twelfth part
of what he fliould conquer, for himfelf and his
heirs. Thefe titles and privileges were a frefli
incitement to Cortes, for farther expeditions
into the South fea. But neither the emperor,
nor the emprefs, who was left regent, the em-
peror being gone into Italy to be crowned,
cared to leave things wholly to his pleafure ^
fo tliat in October 1529, Cortes figned an in-
ftrument which had alfo the fignature of the
emprefs, by which he obliged himfelf to fend
fliips at his own expence, for the difcovery of
countries and iflands in that fea. The follow-
ing year Cortes returned to New Spain, and
partly from his own difpofition and the frequent
claims of the performance of his promife, urged
upon him by the new audience of Mexico, pro-
bably to remove him from that capital, where
the prefence of that illuflrious perfon gave great
umbrage, he firft fet on foot the building two
fhips at Acapulco, with which Diego Hurtado
de Mendoza, a near relation of Cortes, put to
fea from that part in May 1532. This expe-
dition did not prove more fortunate than the
former : one of the fliips company mutined
againft Hurtado, and with great difficulty got
back to Zalifco j but the other in which Hurtado
K 3 failed,
134 H I S. T O R Y O F ^
failed, v/as never heard of. Cortes ordered
two other Ihips to be built, in a town of his
called Jehhuantepec, and to haflen the equip-
ment of them, lie went to the port in perfon.
The tv/o captains were Hernando Grijalva and
Diego Becerra de Mendoza, a relation of his,
and Ortun Ximenes, a Bifcayner, was appointed
pilot. They fet fail in the year 1534, and the
very fall night they feparated without ever
meeting again, prijalva, after failing three hun-
dred leagues came to a defert ifland, which he
called Santo Thome, and is believed to lie near
the point of California ; returning forpe time
after to New Spain. Becerra was of a haughty
cholerickdifpofition, whicli, by the means of the
cruelty and ferocity of the pilot, who could
not bear it, proved his ruin ; for XimeneSj
forgetful of his fubordination, entered into a
plot with fome other malecontents among the
failors, rnurdered him whilil' he was fleeping,
and wounded others of his officers. Thus he
became mafter of the fhip : and in order to
avoid Cortes's refentrncnt, he left on the coaft
of Xalifco, two Francifcans defigngd as com-
miiBonaries, and at their entreaties, he fpared
the wounded peyfons, and thus continued his
voyage in fearch of new countries and iflands
Rewards the North. But he could not fly from
|;he hand of omnipotence, for comjng to that
part
CALIFORNIA. i^^s
part which has fince been called Santa Cruz
bay, and fecms to be part of the inward coaft
of California, he went afhore, and was there
killed by the Indians, together with twenty
other Spaniards. On this difaller, the failors
carried back the fhip to Chametla with an ac-
count, that it was a good country well peopled
and had many pearl beds along the coaft.
Nunno de Gufman, who was then on the con-
quefl of that country, feized the fliip. He had. •
been prefident of the audience of iVIexico, and
judge of refidencia *, and a fworn enemy to
Cortes, whofe refolution even fo mariy and
great misfortunes could notfhake, but was firmly
perfuaded that the Moluccas were at no great
diftance from the weftern coaft ; and that in the
intermediate fpace, he fiiould meet with rich
iflands and countries.
In this opinion, he was likewifc confirmed by
the certain chough exaggerated account of the
pearls, of which he had heard much talk fome
years before. This and the contracfl he had
entered into with the emprefs, determined him to
make one laft attempt 5 and not to commit it
* Refidencia is the tryal a governor or maglilrate under-
goes at the expiration of his employjnent, a judge being
appointed to hear every complaint againft him: all com-
plainants are fummoned to appear; and he is obliged to ftay
upon the f^ot for fuch a time to make his defeuce,
K 4 to
136 HISTORY OF
to captains, but to go himfelf in perfon. He
gave publick notice of his defign, and Spa-
niards flocked from all parts to accompany him.
He fitted out the three fhips which he had
launched at Tehuantepec, in a manner fuitable
to an enterprife which he was to conduct in
perfon. Thefe he fent away to Chiametla,
whilft himfelf marched for Mexico by land with
a good body of foldiers, ofEcers, aiid fettlers
with their families, together with many eccle-
fiafticks and religious for the converfion of the
natives; which, in all enterprifes of this nature,
ought to be the capital concern. The vefTels
arrived at Chiametla, and that of Ortun Xi-
menes being found along lliore empty and
plundered, was again fitted up. Here Gortes
embarked with all who v/ere willing to follow
him. The others on fhore bting left under the
.condu(5l of Andez de Tapia. He fleered
northward for the gulf, which from that time
has been called Mar de Cortes, and is the fame
with that of California. Here they went in queft
of the part where the Indians had killed Ortun
Ximenes, and ventured afhore on the firft of
May 1526. To this place he gave the name
of the bay of Santa Cruz: and by fome it is
tlipught to be the fame as that now called the
bay de la Paz, in the eaflern coafl of Califor-
pis ; or ■ at lead another on the fame coafl be-
twixt.
CALIFORNIA. 137
twixt cape San Lucas and La Paz, which indeed
appears moft probable. Being landed, he fent
back the fhips for the remainder of the people,
and the ftores and provifions provided at Chia-
metla. But the fleet was lb difperfed by ftorms,
that only one reached the place where Cortes
remained, and he had few or no ftores. This
brave man now was very much diftrefled for
want of provifions, the country being every
where barren. However, in this exigency,
his prefence of mind did not forfake him, he
immediately put to fea in this lliip in fearch of
the others which had been difperfed. He crofTed
the fea, fays Gomara, which is like the Adria-
tick, and ran along the coaft for the fpace of
fifty leagues through infinite dangers ; but at
length found his fhips ftranded on the coaft.
This put a ftop to all farther fearch, and it was
not without great labour, difficulty, and danger,
that he returned with relief to the bay of Santa
Cruz ; many had already died of famine, but
more by eating to excefs at his arrival, notwith-
ftanding his precautions. Cortes, that he might
be no longer a fpe6lator of fuch miferies, went
on further difcoveries, and landed in California,
which is a bay.
Thefe and the above cited words of Gomara
prove what we have before obferved, that the
l^ay of Santa Cruz, where Ortun Ximenes was
killed.
138 HISTORY OF
killed, and where Cortes landed, is in that now
called the gulf of California, and likewife proves
that this name was properly that of a bay which
Cortes difcovered on the fame coaft, and per-
haps that now called de la Paz, and ufed to figni-
fy the whole peninfula.
In the mean time, a report was fpread through
New Spain, that Cortes was dead ; and he being
confidered as the only check upon the Mexican
cafiques, they all meditated an infurreflion.
The marchionefs Donna Juanna de Zunniga,
daughter to the count de Aginlar, and coufm
to the duke de Bejan his fecond wife, immedi-
ately difpatched a carval to get an account of
him, and fent letters urging him to return.
Soon after this, two other vefTeis were fcnt;
one was that of Grijalya, who was returned
from his expedition ; the other newly built at
Tehuantepec, with letters both from herfelf,
the audience, and don Antonio Mendoza, the
viceroy informing him of the necefllty of his
prefence in New Spain ; both with regard to the
quiet of the country, and fending to Francis
Pizarro the fuccours which he folicited for
Lima, where he was furrounded by innumerable
troops of Indians. They entreated and even
ordered him to return •, which Cortes himfelf
was not averfe to, being wearied out with fruit-
iefs. efforts both by fea and land j andnowcon-
3 vinced
CALIFORNIA. 139
ylnced to his forrow, that diftinguifhed fiiccefles
by land, are not an infallible aflfurance of the
like by fea. Indeed he rejoiced at this honour-
able opportunity of abandoning, without any
difcredit, an enterprife in which his reputation
was at (take ; and returned to Acapuico in the
beginning of the year 1527, leaving the people
in the bay of Santa Cruz, under the command
of Francifco de Ulloa, who, feeing the impof-
fibility of fubfifting, much more of making any
fctclement, was not long before he followed his
commander back to Acapuico, having either
fecret inftruftions for fo doing, or afting from
his own judgment.
From Acapuico Cortes proceeded to Qua-
hunahuac, fince corrupted into Quarnavaca to
meet his fpoufe ; from thence to Mexico to
make his report to the viceroy. He imme-
diately gave orders to ferid the required fuccours
to Pizarro, and difpatched two fhips under the
command of Hernando Grijalva, from Aca-
puico to Callos with men, arms, and horfes ;
befides feveral rich prefects in the marchionefs's
name j all which arrived very feafonably for the
conqueror of Peru. The multitude of enter-
prifes never could embarrafs Cortes, nor was
he difcouraged by the ill fuccefs of the firft at-
tempts, from the profecution of thofe, which,
after mature reflection, he concluded to be
ieafonable
J40 H I S T O R Y O F
feafonable and advantageous. In the Tpring of
the fame year, he had again a new expedition
on foot, the account of which, as it contains
many important articles relative to our defign,
and confirms feveral things inferted here, we jfhall
literally copy from Francis Lopez de Gomara.
" In the month of May, of the fame year
1537, Cortes fent three other Hiips very well
provided, under Francifco de UUoa, who was
now returned with all the others. His deftina-
tion was toproceed along the coaft of Culhuacan,
which flretches to the northward. The names
of thefe fhips were, Sanda Agueda, La Tri-
nidad, and Santo Thomas. They failed from
Acapuico and touched at Santiago de Buena
Efperanza, for a fupply of provifions. From
Guayabai they croffed to California, in queft of
a fhip, and from thence they proceeded to the
Mar de Cortes, by others called Barmejo, and
kept along the coafl for above two hundred
leagues, till the end of it, to which they gave
the name of Ancon de San Andres, from their
arriving there on the anniverfary of that faint.
Ulloa took poffeflion of that country for the
king of Caftile, in the name of Fernando Cortes.
Ancon lies nearly in the latitude of 32 degrees:
along this coaft are many volcanos, the moun-
tains are quite bare, and the country extremely
poor. They found here fome traces of fheep,
namely.
CALIFORNIA. 141
namely, large, heavy, and very crooked horns-
Many whales were alfo feen in this Tea. The
hooks they ufe for filhing, are either of wood,
fiih bones, or the bones of turtles, of which
they have great quantities and very large. The
men go naked, like the Otomies of New Spain.
They wear on their breaft fome fhining Ihells
like nakre. Their drinking veiTels are the maws
of fea wolves ; though they alfo have them of
clay. Proceeding from the Ancon de San An-
dres along the coaft, they came to California ;
doubled the cape, flood in betwixt the conti-
nent and fome iflands, and proceeded till they
again reached the Ancon de San Andres. This
cape they called El Cabo del Engano, or
cape Deceit; and the winds becoming contrary,
and provifions growing fhort, they returned to
New Spain. Thus, after a whole year's abfence,'
they brought no account of any country worth
a fecond vifit. Fernando Cortes imagined by
that coaft and fe^, to find another New Spain :
but he performed no more than what I have
mentioned, either by fea or land, though he
himfelf was prefent, and did not fpare his per-
fon. He was filled with a conceit, that there
were large and very rich iflands between New
Spain and the Spice iflands. In thefe difcove-
ries, according to the account he delivered in,
he expended two hundred theufand ducats ;
fending
142 HISTORYOF
fending many more fhips and men, than what
he had at firft intended ; and thefe, as we fhall
hereafter relate, occafioned his return to Spain.
But never man engaged in expences with fuch
chearfulnefs and fortitude, in order to profecute
fuch uncertain enterprifes. "
SECT. III.
Of the expeditions to California to the
year 1600.
The little advantage reaped by Cortes in fuch
hazardous and expenfive expeditions, fhould
naturally have cooled the ardour for new enter-
prifes in the north of America, and in the Pa-
cifick ocean : while, on the contrary, the
immenfe riches, which, by the mild and wife
government of don Antonio de Mendoza, fe-
conded by the advice and authority of the mar-
quifs del Valle, might have fatiated the defircs
of new difcoveries ^and acquifitions, and have
limited the attention of the government and
private perfons, to the improvement and hap-
pinefs of that vaft country, which Spain was
ngw in peaceable pofleflion of. But as man
was made in the image of God, and by him alone
the heart can be filled, fo he was never known
to be perfectly contented with the poirefTion of
any
CALIFORNIA. 143
any temporal good, or willing to abandon all
further purfuits.
In the fame year 1537, came from Mexico
to Culiacan, Alvar Nunnez Cabeza de Vaca,
famous for his fmgular adventures, together
with his three companions, Coftiilo, Dorantes,
and Eftevanico, a negro. Of three hundred
Spaniards who landed in the year 1527, with
Pamfilo de Narvaez, in the country of Florida,
with a defign of making a conqueft of it, thofe
four only furvived ; and aft^r wandering tea
years with inconceivable hardfliips, among hea-
thenifh nations in the inward parts of America,
they at length came to the coafl; of Culiacan,
but naked and fo altered, that they perfedly
refembled the natives, till being by their tongue
knov/n to be Spaniards, proper care was taken
of them, and they were fent to Mexico. Here
ev^ry one was aftonifhed with the account they
gave of their adventures, during fo long and
extraordinary a perambulation -, and of the mi-
racles which they faid God had been p'eafed by
their means, to v;ork on the fick Indians, even
fo far as to raife the dead. They likewife af-
firmed what Alvar Nunnez afterwards wrote
in his account to the emperor, viz. that the
fouthern coaft abounds with pearls and other
riches ; and that it was the befl part of the
country thereabouts. This Alvar Nunnez
Cabeza.
144 H I S T O R Y O F*
Cabeza de Vaca, was afterwards appointed to
condufl the difcovery of the Rio de h Plata,
and the firfl conquefts of Paraguay. To this
teftimony, which received no little weight from
their unparalleled wanderings, and the accounts
they gave, was added another of flill greater
force in the following year 1538. Marcos de
Niza, a Francifcan, and provincial of the new
province of Santo Evangelio, being informed
that a lay brother of his order had gone from
Culiacan above 200 leagues northward, and
pafled through countries very well peopled,
where he heard furprifing accounts of other
countries beyond them j he was animated
with a zeal for preaching the gofpel to thefe
people, and determined to vifit them in perfon.
This employed him many months -, and at his
reti.;rn he reported that he had met with very
good countries, where he was informed of feven
large towns, inhabited by civilized nations : that
the foil afforded plenty of beads, grain, and
fruits ; and the mountains rich metals and
gems : addins>; that not far diftant was a re-
o >->
markably large town called Quivira, with
houfes feven (lories high, and celebrated over all
thofe parts for its richnefs.
All Mexico was full of this novelty •, nothing
elfe was talked of throughout the whole city ;
where at that time there happened to be a great
man}?
CALIFORNIA. 145
many perfons juft arrived from Spain, who rea-
dily conceived, that now they fhould find as rich
an empire to conquer, as that which had ren-
dered Cortes fo famous. The difcoveries made
a little before in New Spain ; thofe then carry-
ing on in Peru ; the general opinion of the
riches of the Eaft Indies, which was judged to
be at no great diitance, and thefe depofitions of
the father provincial, and of the companions
of Pamfilo de Narvaez, were fo many additional
motives, from which even thofe who were by
no means eafiy of belief, could not withhold
their alTent. Cortes and the viceroy immedi-
ately determined to attempt the conquefl of
this country both by fea and land : but it was
foon perceived that their intentions were utterly
irreconcilable •, each defigning it for himfelf,
independently of the other ; the one as vice-
roy ; the other in right of his title of difcoverer
of the South fea, and of the compa(5l between
him and the emprefs.
The viceroy, though in other things a perfon
of exemplary juilice and magnanimity, was not
fo indifferent in point of honour, that he could
calmly behold the carriage of the Spaniards and
Indians towards Cortes. The latter, though he
lived retired from Mexico, and difcontented a^
his difappointment in obtainingthe government
' which he had foIicite4 the emperor for, found
Vol. I, . L means
14^ H 1 S T O R Y O F
means to maintain his intereft and authority
without the leafl: diminution : and fo artfully
did he ufeit, that he gave umbrage to none of the
eminent placemen in New Spain -, and Ihewed
the neceflity of his prefence, without bringing
the leafl; fufpicion on his condudl. The vice-
roy and the audience found, if not a juft, at
leaft a favourable opportunity of fhewing him
that by the privilege of taking an account of
the vaflals granted him by the emperor, he was
then dependent. Another circumftance was
the indemnification which Nuncio de Guzman,
who had been formerly prefident, was con-
demned to make to Cortes, for which feveral
delays were made, partly out of refpeft to his
former office, but more from a declared oppo-
Ii'tion to Cortes, which he alone had the fpirit
publickly to maintain ; there had fome time
been no good underftanding between Cortes and
thd viceroy, though in the year 1538, they
had been reconciled ; but now their recent and
ill- cemented accommodation was diffolved. All
Cortes's rights were now to be can vafled in courts
of juftice J and he faw them decided in a man-
ner very different from that in which he had
been ufed to decide the fates of kingdoms and
empires, and found himfelf more embarrafTed
among folicitors, counfellors, and attorneys,
fhan among multitudes of enemies in Otumba
and
2
CALIFORNIA. 147.
aiid Mexico : and now, by a melancholy expe-
rience, he was convinced how well grounded
his opinions were, when fome years fmce he ad-
viied the emperor againft fuffering any of the
long robe, from coming over to New Spain.
In the mean time the viceroy Mendoza, ima-
gined to have before him a conqueft in which
he might acquire greater reputation and riches,
than Cortes had in his : and without thofe fad
miftakes, in the cruel treatment of the Indians :
fo that relying too much on Cortes's patience,
and his loyalty as a vaffal, he ifllied orders for
two powerful armaments ; one by fea, the
other by land, in order to conquer the coun-
tries and iflands northward of Mexico. The
command of the fleet was given to captain
Francifco de Alarcon, who was to keep along
the coafl, and in the latitude offifty two degrees,
to join the land forces, according to the
information of the religious. The army was
headed by the viceroy in perfon, Cortes re-
maining in Mexico, proteliing in vain againft
the enterprife, and complaining that he was in-
jured by it. However the reprefentations of
the auditors, and the perplexed ftate of the go-
vernment, prevailed on the viceroy to ch?.nge
his mind : and accordingly he conferred the com-
mand of the land forces on Francifco Vafquez
Coronado. This officer marched from Mexico,
h 2 at
148 H I S T O R Y O F
at the head of one thoufand chofen men *, and
well provided with every thing neceflary for
a conqueft and fettlcment : his guides were the
Francifcans •, and with thefe he advanced three
hundred leagues from Culiacan, by the way of
Cinoloa and Valle de Sonora, till after incredi-
ble difficulties, he came to the place of his
deftination. They found feven towns, compo-
fing a province or kingdom, called Cibola, in
which were only four hundred men : the largeft,
which is however of the viceroy's country,
they called Granada, had two hundred houfes
of earth and rough wood, but of four or five
ftories, to which they went up wooden ftairs ;
and thefe in the night time were taken away.
The country made a very poor appearance, at
leaft to thefe, who were prepolTeiTed with fuch
magnificent ideas of it, though very fit for pro-
ducing fruits and grains of all kinds. After
fome ftay, they began to think of Mexico ; but
that they might not return empty and without
making fome attempt, don Garci Lopez de
Cardena, went with his troop of horfe towards
the fea, and general Vafquez Coronado march-
ed to Tigue, on a river where he got intelligence
of Patarrax, king of Axa and Qiiivira, of which
countries they gave fo pleafing an account, tliat
a body of Spaniards was i'cnt. thither, being
three hundred leagues further along a level
country.
CALIFORNIA. 149
country, but thinly peopled. Thefe arrived at
Quivira, which, according to their report, Hes
forty degrees in a country abounding in beads
and fruits. But its only riches confilt in herds
of a certain kind of black cattle, which they
breed, ferving them for food, furniture, and
cloaths. Though, according to others, Vafques,
from a defire of returning to Mexico, contrary
to many others who were for fettling there, gave
a difadvantageous account of the country.
Gomara adds, that along the coaft they faw
fhips with gold and filver guljs at their heads :
and concluded that they mult come from Cataya
or China, as by the figns they made, they had
been 30 days at fea. At length thinned by
ficknefs, weakened by hunger, and difcouraged
by fatigues without advantage, it was deter-
mined to return to Mexico, where, after an ab-
sence of three years, they arrived in March
1542.
Juan de Padilla and another religious, toge-
ther with a Portuguefe, and fome Indians of
Mechonau remained at Tiguex ; the two religi-
ous made a fecond journey to Quivira, where
they and fome of the Indians were killed. Buc
the Portuguefe had the good fortune to efcape,
^nd, after a long time, made his appearance a;
{*snuco.
L 3 Such
ifo HISTORY OF
Such were the tranfaflions of the land forcesf;
In the mean tinfie Francifco de Alarcon put to
fea in the year 1540, with the fhips under his
command ; his orders being to join Vafquez
Coronado, in the latitude of thirty-fix degrees.
He fleered for CaUfornia, and being arrived at
the place appointed, he long waited to no pur-
pofe the coming up of the army, which he could
not go in queft of, though he had certain infor-
mation that they could have joined him in ten
days. The term of his inftrudions was already
elapfed, fo that fetting up feveral crolTes and
burying at the foot of them, bottles containing
letters, in which were writ the day, month, and
year of his coming, he returned to New Spain,
and found in the harbour a much greater fleet,
and the viceroy's major- dome. Thus ended
^his naval expedition, without any other re-
markable circumftance, than the difgrace of
Francifco Alarcon, who before had been a fa-
vourite of the viceroy -s, and his retreat from
Mexico to Cortes's territories, where he fooq
after died of grief and chagrin.
The viceroy not only employed his authority
and wealth in this attempt, which made a o-reat
noife till the difcovery of the miftake ; but by
a dextrous flroke of policy, he augmented his
power and party, and deprived Hernan CorteS
pf his chief fupport, At the time the governor
*" an4
CALIFORNIA. 151
and commander in chief in Guatemala, was
Pedro de Alvarado, the conqueror and peopler
of the fertile province by commifTion from
Cortes, whofe fortunes he had followed from
the beginning. After fettling every thing in
this country in the year 1535, he was fent to
Peru with fevcn fliips, to afllft Pizarro in the
conqueft of Quito, which in gold and riches
was faid to exceed Cufco. He returned from
this expedition with large rewards from Pizarro
and Almagro, who were better pleafed with
his departure th^n his affiftance, on account of
his overbearing tempejr. This money, with that
which he raifed in his province, by a cruel op-
prefllon of the Indians, put him upon higher
thoughts -, and as the facred ties of gratitude
and friendfhip were of little account with him,
and confequently he was not to be reftrained by
the fenfe of any refpedl to Hernan Cortes as
his chief, he formed the defign of clandeftinely
rivaling him in the difcoveries of the South fea.
In order to this, he aflced a commifiion from, the
emperor, who being every day more felicitous
about this difcovery, and not without feme
fufpicion of Cortes, whom his competitors ac-
cufed of remiflhefs in performing the contract,
v^rhich gave an appearance of guilt to his mif-
fortunes, eafily granted it. But with a claufe
in no manner to moled the polTefTion of the Por-
L 4 tuguefe.
152 HISTORY OF
tiiguefe. On receiving this commiflion, Alvar
rado prepared an armament in his province,
beyond any which had appeared in thofe feas
under Cortes. He ordered twelve fhips, a gal-
ley, and fome fmaller veflels to be built ; and
provided them well with men, horfes, artillery,
arms, and provifions. The expence of fitting
out this fleet was fo large, that befides the
greateft part of his fubftance, and what could
be raifed in his province, he was obliged to ap-
ply to fome of his friends to aiTift him with
money. His defign was to fail to India and the
Spice iflands, making difcoveries along Cali-
fornia and Funta de Vallenas, according to the
fcheme of his former commander. Having
taken upon himfelf the ftile of general of his
armada, he brought his fhips in 1538 to la
purification, where he was to take in water,
provifions, and men. All this was known to
the viceroy, who being a declared enemy, conclu-
ded thatAlvarado would, without much difficulty,
le'iinguifli his ancient patron. He likewife,
on the other hand, forefaw how greatly it con-
cerned him to bring Alvarado over to his inte-
refl, as likewife the dangerous confequences that
inuft follow from his union wifh Cortes. He
therefore fent him a letter by exprefs, to the
place of rendezvous : and his forwardnefs to
conclude an afTociation, even exceeded the
viceroy':^
CALIFORNIA. 155
viceroy's expeftation, when, in order to finifli it
without delay, he fent his major domo Auguftine
Guerrero and don Lewis de Caftilla. And du-
ring this congrefs, Francifco de Alarcon came
into Pacificacion harbour, from his expedition
to Cibola, as I have before obferved.
In order to put a finifhing hand to the con-
traft, it was agreed that the viceroy and Alva-
rado fhould have a meeting at Chinibitio, a
townof Mechoacan. According;ly, the viceroy
went poll: thither from Mexico. The confe-
rences being ended, they went together to fee
the armada ; and from thence they returned to
Mexico, to appoint a commander in chief of
tl^e whole fleet j an eflential point, but in which
they did not agree, each being for putting in a
creature of their own. Alarcon was called
away to Guatemala, on important affairs rela-
ting to the province, and the neceflity of making
the leaft difpofitions for the enterprife. Thefe
preparatives took up a long time; during which,
every perfon e^preffed his abhorrence of Alva*
rado's proceedings againft Cortes, to whom he
was indebted for every thing he enjoyed. This
alfo increafed the rancour between the viceroy
and Cortes, to the moft indecent extremities i
and the latter finding there was no redrefs, to
be expedled in New Spain, refolved to make a
fe^ond voyage to Europe, in order to feek it
from
154 HISTORY OF
from the juftice and goodnefs of the emperor.
Accordingly he embarked for Spain, with his
two fons in the year 1540 ; attended the em-
peror in the unfortunate expedition to Algiers ;
and after feven years fpent in the idle buftle of
the court, and anxiety for the difpatch of his
affairs, which were defignedly prolonged in or-
der to hinder his return, he at length died on
the 2d of December 1547, in a manner beco-
ming a chriftian, at Caftilleja de la Cuefta, as
he was going to meet his daughter at Cadiz.
He was a man truly worthy of immortal reputa-
tion, and not inferior to the moft celebrated heroes.
The few failings he had, are hid by theluftre of his
jnany virtues, political, military, and chriftian;
efpecially his moft ardent zeal for the propaga-
tion of religion. If at the time of the conqueft
the Indians were treated with an unwarrantable
feverity, he may in fome meafure be difculpated
by neceflity, and the fury of his foldiers, which
officers often find too difficult to be reftrained.
But when he aded of himfelf, the good
nefs of his heart was always confpicuous :
and if in the abovementioned particular, and the
flaughter of the great men of Mexico, at the
battle of the Hibueras, he is not to be vindi-
cated, yet let us hope that Omnipotence, the
juft avenger of the weak, was pleafed to hum-
ble him here, by depriving him during the re-
mainder
CALIFORNIA. 155
mainder of his life, of that fuccefs which hi-
therto had always attented him ; and that he
fhould clofe his life in a chaos of troubles and
difappointments.
Cortes being now abfent, Pedro Alvarado
haftened the difpofitions for his enterprife with
lefs referve. Gautemala was the fcene of his
preparatives ; and when they were finiflied, he
went by laud to Pueto de Navidad, in order to
embark and take upon him the command of his
fleet. Here he received letters from Chrilto-
pher de Onate, deputy governor of Xalifco,
under Vafquez Coronado, who was then at
Cibola, informing him that he was furrounded
by the Indians ; and that unlefs he fpeedily
came to his relief, he and his people muft abfolutely
perifh. It highly concerned the enterprife, that
the harbours of Xalifco fhould be fafe ; it was
alfo proper to Ihew this regard to the governor,
who was abfent on fuch important fervices ;
and much more to the viceroy that had fent
him, that Alvarado getting together what
horfes, arms, and men he could, haftened to
the relief of Onate ; and came juft time enough
to fave him. However, the Indians continued
the war with intrepid animofity, and feme of
them having pofted themfelves among fteep
rocks, Alvarado, with a detachment of horfe
^nd foot, attempted to diflodge themi. The
Spaniards
156 HISTORYOF
Spaniards began to march up the eminence,
Alvarado encouraging them by his example.
But the Indians rolling down large pieces of
rock, deftroyed feveral of our men ; and fome
of the horfes, by the fteepnefs of the ground,
fell down the precipices. One of thefe frag-
ments happened to tumble againft Alvarado
himfelfjwho, being famous for his agility, had
alighted in order to fhun the danger, but the
rock llriking his horfe, threw him upon his
mailer, fo that both rolled down among the
rocks ; by which he was fo bruifed, that he
died in four days after at Ezatlan, ten leagues
from Guadalaxara, and three hundred from
Guatemala, in the year 1541. Such was the
unfortunate end of Pedro Alvarado, an excel-
lent warrior, but according to fome not fo good
a governor ; profperous during his whole life,
and unfortunate in his death ; more ambitious
of fway however, than of folid praife ; bold and
licentious in his difcourfe ; but his true prin-
ciple was interell. He fo cruelly oppreffed the
Indians, that his misfortunes and thofe of his
family have been confidered as the confequence
of fuch a condudl. In September of the fame
year, the city of Santiago de Guatemala was
deftroyed by a tempefl; and inundation, in which
was drowned his lady donna Beatriz de la
C^ueva, whofe character Dias del Caftillo vin?
dicate^
CALIFORNIA. 157
dicates againft the cenfures of others. He had
two fons, one of which, don Pedro, was drowned in
his return to Spain, and don Diego killed in a
rencounter in Peru. Thefe three brothers were
alfo equally unfortunate, and all, who, like him,
had commanded in the conqueft of thofe coun-
tries.
The great fleet was now ready to fail : but
like a body without a head, came to nothing,
the Ihips being forfaken, rotted in the har-
bours. Such was the end of an expedition,
which, for fo long a time had held in fufpence,
and even alarmed the new world.
The viceroy don Antonio de Mendoza was
extremely concerned at the cataftrophe of AI-
varada and the lofs of his armado, which was
out of his power to repair : the expences of
his two expeditions by land and fea, being flill
a great incumbrance upon him. He was how-
ever ftill more afFedled at the return of Vafquez
Coronado v/ithout any advantage. This hap-
pened, as we have already obferved, in the be-
ginning of the following year 1542. Though
he was of a fpirit too noble to be thrown into
defpair by the firft mifcarriages in the profecu-
tion of defigns, which he thought ufeful and
glorious i and he had very much at heartthe pro-
pagation of the faith, and the preaching of the
gofpel to other nations. It was likewife his
firm
158 H I S T O R Y O F, &c.
firm perfuafion, that trade and conquefts on
that fide of the South fea, and in the eaftern
part of the Indies, without meddling with the
Molucas, would be produdlive of immenfe ad-
vantages to the flate. He thought, that great
as the difficulties were, they might be over-
come,buthewas unfortunately deprived ofadding
to the excellent regulation's of his peaceable ad-
miniftracion, the fruits of which are certain and
fubflantial, fome fignal a6lion which might be
ranked with the achievements of other perfo-
nages of the noble houfe of Mendoza, at that
time more than ever fruitful in perfons diftin-
guiflied for arts and arms. Thus, notwithftand-
ing his arrears, and griefs which affeded his
mind, he heroically determined that fame year
1542 to execute three enterprifes of equal
glory and advantage. The firft was to go in
perfon to reduce the Indians of Xalifco and
New Gaiicia, whom Alvarado's death had fpi-
rited up to a revolt j and the quelling of whom
was the more neceffary, as it was only through
that province, that the intended conqueft to-
wards the North could be carried into execu*
tion. The fecond was to fend fhips for fur-
yeying the outward or weftern of California and
America. The third to fend other Ihips for
difcovering, and making a fettlement in the
iflands, then called De Poniente or weftern ;
and
CALIFORNIA. 159
dnd fince the Marianas and Philippines, as ly-
ing much nearer America than the Moluccas.
In the firfl enterprife he was attended by the
greateft part of all the nobility of New Spain ;
and by his courage, prudence, and mildnefs, the
tranquillity of the whole country was in a little
time reftored. For the fecond and third, fuch iliips
of Alvarado's unfortunate fleet as had received
any damage were repaired. Two of thefe he
fent under the command of Juan Rodriguez
Cabrillo, a Portuguefe of great courage and
honour, and a thorough feaman, to execute the
fecond enterprife. And the 5 others com-
pofed a fleet, which he gave Ruy- Lopez de
Villa Lobos, a native of Malaga ; being a no-
bleman by birth, and poflfefTed of talents equal
to the intention of this undertaking, which was
to difcover the Philippine iflands. He put to
fea after the Portuguefe, on All faints day,
from the harbour de Navidad j and fl:eering
dirtdly Weft, fell in with the Ladrones -, pro-
ceeding from thence to Leyle Mindanao and
others, which compofe the Philippine Archi-
pelago. But the conclufion was not anfwer-
able ; feveral misfortunes attended him, and
after lofing moft of his Ihips, and being defti-
tute of afllftance, he was obliged to put in at
the Moluccas. Here he met with fuch indif-
ferent reception from the Portuguefe, fettled at
Ter-
i6o HISTORY OF
Terrenate and Tidore, that he died of grief at
i^mboyna, in the year 1546. The religious,
together with a few laymen, the diftreffed re-
mains of this expedition, obtained from the Por-
tuguefe, the favour of returning to Spain by
way of Malacca, Goa, and the Cape of Good
Hope.
No other expedition to thefe iflands was un-
dertaken till the year 1564, when Miguel
Lopez de Legazpi, accompanied by the cele-
brated religious Andres de Urdaneta, in the
time of the fecond viceroy Don Luis de Ve-
lafco had better fuccefs, and made a fettlement
in the Philippines.
Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, failed with his twd
fhips from the fame port de Navidad, the 27th
of June, on a difcovery of the coaft towards
the North. He touched at the bay of Santa
Cruz in California, otherwife called Puerto del
Marques del Valle, fince Cortes had been
there : this he found in 24 degrees of latitude ;
and following the weftern coaft, he came to a
bay, to which he gave the name of La Magda-
lena, lying in 27 degrees, and in 32 degrees,
he made cape del Engano ; that of la Cruz in
33, and that of de la Galera in ^6 and a half;
and oppofite the laft he met wifh two large
iflands, lo leagues from the coaft, where they
informed him, that at fome diftance there was a
nation
i
CALIFORNIA. i6i
nation which wee cloaths : in 37 degrees and
a half, he had figh: of fome hills covered with
trees, which he called San Martin, as he did
alfo the cape running into the fea at the end of
thefe eminences. Beyond this to 40 degrees,
the coaft lies N. E. and S. W. and about the
40th degree he faw fome mountains covered
with fnow ; and betwixt them a large cape,
which, in honour to the viceroy, who had fent
him, he called de Mendoza or Mendozino 5
and near it a fpacious bay to which he gave
the name of de Pinos, from the multitude of
pine trees of an extraordinary height growing
near it. In January 1543, he arrived at Cabo
de Fortuna in 41 degrees, and on the loth of
March, found himfelf in 44 degrees lat. the
cold very intenfe. This was the utmofl limits
of his voyage, the want of provifions, and the
bad condition of his fhips, not admitting him
to make any farther progrefs : fo that he re-
turned, and, on Saturday the 14th of April, en-
tered Navidad harbour, giving it as his opi-
nion, that fuch an enterprife required lliips of
a greater ftrength and burden, with the belt
fails and rigging, and well ftored with provi-
fions ; it being very difficult to obtain a
fupply.
I have been the more particular in defcribing
the fituation and names of the principal parts
Vol. |. M furveyed
j62 H I S T O R Y O F
furveyed In this voyage, in order to compare It
with other difcoveries, efpecially as feveral au-
thors, either omit or confound this expedition,
which was the laft undertaken by this excellent
viceroy, in the north of the Pacifick fea.
In the year 1551, don Antonio de Men-
doza, to the inexprefTible grief of the Spaniards
and Indians, was preferred from the viceroyalty of
Mexico, to that of Peru ; and his abfence, for
feveral years, fufpended all further enterprifes
towards California. Only the viceroy don
Luis de Velafco, being defirous of providing a
good harbour on the weftern coaft for the Phi-
lippine fhips, fent a veffel called the San Au-
guftin, which foon returned without having
done any thing.
In the year 1596, don Gafpar de Zunniga,
count de Monte-rey, viceroy of Mexico, re-
ceived an order from Philip II. for difcovering
and making fettlements in proper parts of Ca-
hfornia •, the Englifh, at that time taking ad-
vantage of our remiffnefs, had began to claim
the lovereignty of the fea. The famous fir
Francis Drake, among other things, had (Iruck
the inhabitants of the coads of the South fea
with condernation -, and even made a fettle-
ment on California, to which he gave the name
of New Albion, as belonging to the crown of
England : in this he was followed by more of
his
mi
CALIFORNIA. 163
his countrymen, particularly Thomas Caven-
difli and others, who fortifying themfelves on
that coaft, molefted our navigation to the Phi-
lippine iflands. On the other hand there was
then much talk about the ftreight of Anian^
through which the South-fea was faid to com-
municate with that of the North, near New-
foundland ; and ihould the Englifh find out a
praflicable paflage on that fide, our dominions,
which then included all Portuguefe India,
would be no longer fecure, all the coaft from
Acapulco to Culiacan, being quite defencelefsj
and from Culiacan northward, not one fingle
fettlement was made on the whole coaft. Re-
fides the report of the rich pearls in thofe feas,
was far from being extinguifhed. But the great
confideration, which chiefly prompted the heart
of that religious monarch, was the propagation
of the gofpel, and his compaffion for fo many
millions of fouls immcrfed for want of preach-
ers in the darknefs of infidelity, and which the
apoftolick fee had earneftly recommended to
his pious compaffion.
The court gave the conducb of this expedi-
tion to general Sebaftian Vifcaino, a man
of undoubted courage and prudence. He was
not only a good foldier, but alfo v/ell verfed in
fca affairs ; and his affability and mildnefs, par-
ticularly qualified him for the direflion of an
M % enter-
l64 H I S T O R Y O F
enterprife, ufually attended with many difa-
greeable circumflances to the fhip's company,
who immediately impute any fufferings to the
commander. The neceffary difpofitions being
made, general Vifcai no failed from Acapulco
in three well provided fhips, on board of which
were four Francifcan regulars. His firfl paf-
fage was to the iflands uf Mazatlan and port
San Sebaftian, where they watered : from thence
croffing the gulf, which they found to be 80
leagues in breadth, they landed on the eaftern
coafl of California without any refiilance from
the Indians, though they camiC down to the
fhore in great numbers. But the country not
pleafing them, they went to another harbour,
which they called San Sebaflian, where they
hoifltd the royal ftandard, as a fign that they
took pofiefllon of it in the king's name. Here
they ftaid eight days, during which time fome
foldiers were fent up to reconnoitre the coun-
try ; and were fo far from being molefled by
the natives, that they came down to the fhore
with game and fruit, their only fubfiilence,
and pearls for trafhck. l"he general did not,
however, judge it a place proper for making a
fecrlement, on account of it having no water,
and the barrennefs of the foil. The commo-
dore's fliip was therefore f^nt further to look
out for a more convenient place, and they all
removed
CALIFORNIA. 165
removed to that which fince has been called de
Ja Paz, on account of the peaceable behaviour
of the Indians in that bay. Here they efta-
blifhed a garrlfon within a pallifade. They
jikewife run up a fmall church, and fome huts
with branches of trees, as the rude beginning of
that fettlement they intended for the capital of
this acquifition. The natives with great fim-
plicity and candor, came to the garrifon with
their fruits, fifli, and likewife brought with
them fome pearls. And the religious immedi-
ately applied themfelves to gain their afFedlions,
and explained to them, in the befl manner they
were capable, tlie myfleries of the chriftian re-
ligion. They diftributed many fmall prefents
to the children, of which there were great
numbers among them, and thefe with other
endearments, greatly tended to gain the love of
the inhabitants. They ufed to complain to the
religious of the injuries done them by the fol-
diers, who, befides other outrages, forcibly took
away from them any thing they had, an evil
too common in fuch difcoveries ; but in feveral
refpeds, of very bad confequences. They
afked the fathers, whether they were fons of
the fun, looking on them as deities ; and en-
treated them to ftay among them, and order
the foldiers away, as being cruel and wicked.
Ac mafs they were filled with admiration at the
M 3 facred
I
i56 H I S T O R Y O F
facred ceremony. They fhewed a reidy compli-
ance to all the injun6tions of the religious : and
their whole behaviour fufficiently (hewed them
to be an humane docile people ; and well dif-
pofed to embrace the chriftian faith. But the ge-
neral was not long in perceiving, that the foil
produced fo very little, that it would not fup-
port fo large a number of men. On this ac-
count, and that he might fully difcharge his
commifTion for the dilcovery, he fent the com-
modore and a tender to take a view of the coafts
and illands further to the northward. Thofc
that went in thefe fhips landed on feeing any
people i and if they were received peaceably,
they furveyed the country, drawn up in order
of battle. If any oppofition was offered, they
returned and continued their courfe. Thus
they coafted above lOO leagues. In the moft
northern part of the country to which they
came, 50 foldiers were fent afhore to recon-
noitre ; and feeing it was no better than thofe
they had before viewed, were returning on
board. At this the Indians became fo fpirited
as to fhoot feveral arrows at them ; and the
Spaniards on the other fide faced about, and fired
upon them, wounded fome, and killed three or
four, upon which the others fled. The foldiers,
however, haftened to the boat, in order to go
pn board the fhip, which, for want of water, lay
one-
^
CALIFORNIA. 167
one-fourth of a league diflant from the fliore.
As the boat would not hold above 25, the like
number were obliged to remain, till it returned
to fetch them off. In the mean time near
500 Indians had artfully concealed themfelves,
till an opportunity offered of doing effe(5lual
execution. The boat returned ; and whilft they
were getting into it confufedly, without any ap-
prehenfion, the Indians with a fliout fallied
from their ambufcade, the boat in the hurry,
this occafioned, was overfet, that our people
falling into the water, their fire arms were of
no ufe. Thus nineteen Spaniards miferably pe-
rifhed, being drowned or killed by the Indians,
through an inability of defending themfelves.
And it was equally impoffible for thofe on board,
however concerned at their misfortune, to give
them any affiflance : a few however reached
the fhip by fwimming. It had before been
deliberated about returning, for want of pro-
vifions i with a greater quantity of which, they
might have reconnoitred the farthefl parts of
the gulf. But this misfortune determined them
to return to the garrifon, which they with ex-
treme dejeflion reached, after having kept the
fea a month. General Vilcaino was there, but
fo diflireffed for want of provifions, that he had
fcarce maize enough to fubfift them, during the
pafiage to the continent. And as they found no
M 4 place
i68 HISTORY OF
place on the coaft, where they could get a
fupply, it was refoived in a council of war, en-
tirely to relinquifh the conqueft, without leaving
in the country any fettlers : and accordingly they
returned to New Spain, at the end of the fame
year 1596.
Alt account of the ifilie of this expedition
was fent t court, and arrived foon after Philip
111. had afcrnded the throne, on the death of
his father Philip II, which happened on the
twenty-third of September 1598.
SECT. IV.
A remarkable warrant of Philip III, and
other expeditions to California, till
the reign of Philip IV,
The political motives, which induced Philip
II. to order the conqueft of California to be un-
dertaken with all pofiible expedition, ftill exifted
at the acceiTion of Philip III, and became every
day more and more urgent. The new king
likewife inherited all the religion and zeal of his
father j and confequenily was eafily impreffed by
the noble motives of propagating the faith.
Another reafon was, the fecurity of the navi-
gation, undertaken to the Philippines : for the
fhips, in return from thofe iflands to NewSpain^
always came within fight of cape Mendozina ;
and
CALIFORNIA. 169
and the violence of the north weft winds in that
part, rendered it necelFary to have fome Ilieker
near that cape, where they might fafely land
for refrefhment and water; for want of which,
many Jfhips had been loft : and thofe who had
arrived at Acapuico, were in a miferable con-
dition. Accordingly on the twenty-feventh of
September 1599, an order was fent to the count
de Monte-rey, that out of the royal revenue, a
new difcovery and fettlement in California,
fl-iould be undertaken with all pofTibJe vigour : but
inftead of the eaftern coaft of the gulf, the wef-
tern coaft of the South fea fhould be furveyed.
The viceroy, after maturely weighing every
circumftance, tofecurethe fuccefs of an attempt,
which, from repeated mifcarriages, during the
courfe of the whole preceding century, had an
appearance of extreme difficulty, appointed for
commander in chief, the fameSebaftian Vifcaino,
•who had commanded in the late expedition, and
from his zeal for the royal commands, neglect-
ed nothing which might contribute to the fecu-
rity and advantage of the enterprife. On the
fifth of May 1632, general Vifcaino failed
from Acapuico harbour with two Ihips, a frigate
andabarco longo, and with him three bare footed
Carmelites, one of whom, Antonio de la Afcen-
iion, wrote a particular account of the expedi-
tion, an extra!^ from which, by Torquemada,
I
17© HISTORY OF
I have inferted in at the end of this work. In
the mean time it will be fufficient to read the
fuccinfl, though entertaining narrative, con-
tained in the royal fchedule, which I fhall now
tranfcribe ; from whence it is evident, that he
took an accurate view of the coaft, as far as
cape Mendozina in forty degrees. And even
reconnoitred cape Blanco de San Sebaftian, in
forty-one degrees and a half. Before he came to
thefe places, he faw a large harbour near the
Punto de Pinos, or Pine-cape, provided with
every thing that could be defired, for the fe-
curity and repair of fhips : and which, in honour
of the viceroy, by whom he had been fenr, he
called Puerto de Monte-rey. However, finding
the impoffibility of making any longer ftay on
that coaft, they returned to New Spain, arri-
ving at Acapulco in March 1603.
The fatigues, diftrefles, ficknefTes, and dan-
gers of this voyage were fufficient to difcou-
rage the moft refolute. However, general
Vifcaino, inured to hardships, and in expecta-
tion of obtaining both glory and advantage in
making the conqueft, ftrongly foliicited the
viceroy that he might make a frefh attempt at
his own expence ; but rightly judging that no-
thing of that kind muft be undertaken, without
the permifllon of his majefty, who had taken it
into his own hand, Vifcaino made a voyage into
Spain,
CALIFORNIA. 171
-Spain, to follicit the affair at court. Here m
his memorial, he fet forth the great advantage
of r.he expedition, in very lively colours. The
fupreme council of the Indies, however warned
by the little effedl of the two preceding attempts,
in which very large Turns of the royal revenue
had been expended, without any benefit, de-
ferred coming to a refolution, till they had
received frefh informations, proceeding ftep
by ftep in a matter reputed of fo great con-
ftqiience. Thus general Vifcaino, who had a
icapacity and courage, which carried him with
honour, through all the difficulties and dangers
ofw.ir, both by fea and land, could not make
his way through the fickienefs, intrigues, and
tra '(. liVs of the court; fo that he left it full of
difcontent, and returning to New Spain, fpent
the remai.^der of his life in quiet and retirement.
However, the confequence foon juftihed the
flownefs which had preceded the refolution :
for fcarce had the general left Spain, when, on
the nineteenth of Augufl 1606, the king figned
two commiffions, direfted to don Juan de Men-
doza, and Luna marquifs of Montes Claros,
recently made viceroy of New Spain, and don
Pedro de Acunna, governor and captain gene-
ral of the Philippine iflands, drawn up with
fuch prudence, and filled with fuch fagacious re-
liiarks on the importance and difpofition necef-
fary
1^1 HISTORY G F
fkry to the fuccefs of the defign, as render them
worthy of being laid before the publick, efpe-
cially as they confirm what I have related ; I
ihall therefore here infert an exa<5l copy of that
fent to don Pedro de Acunna.
By the K I N G.
Don Pedro de Acunna, knight of the order
of St. John, my governor and captain general
of the Philippine iflands, and prefident of my
royal audience there : you are hereby given to
underlland, that don Luis de Velafco, my
late viceroy in New Spain, in regard to the
great diftance between the port of Acaprulco
and thofe iflands, the fatigue, hardfhip, and
danger of that voyage, for want of a port
where the fliips might put in, and provide them-
felves with water, wood, mafls, and other
things of abfolute necefllty, determined to
make a difcovery and draughts, with obferva-
tions of the harbours along the coaft, from New
Spain to thefe iflands ; and ordered this fervice
to be performed in a fliip called the San Auguf-
tin, the lofs of which, at that time, fruflrated
the faid difcovery : and that the count de
Monte-rey, who fucceeded him in that govern-
ment; having the fame opinion of the incon-
veniences of that voyage, and the fame zeal
for
CALIFORNIA. 173
for removing them, by purfuing the difcovery,
intended by don Luis de Velafco, wrote to me
concerning it -, and was of opinion, that fmall
vefTels from the harbour of Acapuico, were the
fitteft ; and, that in the difcovery might be in-
cluded the coafls and bays of the gulf of Cali-
fornia, and of the fifliery ; to which, in my letter
of the twenty -feventh of September 1599, I or-
dered to be anfwered, that the difcovery and
making draughts, with obfervations of that
coafl; and the bays along it, having appeared to
me highly convenient, it was my will he fliould
immediately put it in execution, without trou-
bling himfelf about that of California, unlefs
occafionally. Agreeably to this, he appointed
for the conduct of the enterprife, Sebaftiaa
Vifcaino as an experienced navigator, particu-
larly acquainted with the voyage in queftion,
and, in whom, he placed an entire confidence;
and having furnilhed him with two fhips and a
tender, well provided with all necefTaries for a
year, he immediately embarked with a fuitable
number of feamen and foldiers j and an able
cofmographer fkilled in maps, in order that the
parts and places difcovered, might be fet down
with the greater clearnefs and accuracy: having
with him orders and inflrudions how he was to
proceed, and what he was to do, he put to fea
from Acapuico harbour, on the fifth of May
1602,
474 HISTORYOF
1602, according to the advice fent me by the
faid count de Monte-rey and Sebaflian Vifcaino,
who, after feveral letters, the laft of which was
on the 1 aft day of April 1604, informed me
that he had been eleven months on the voyage :
and that from the faid harbour he had began to
found and take draughts of the coafls, harbours,
creeks, and bays, as far as the twenty-feventh
degree, with all neceffary precifion and exaft-
nefs : and that from twenty-fix degrees to forty-
two, he did no more than keep within fight of
land, fo that he was not able to make fuch par-
ticular obfervations, as he had done till
the twenty-feventh degree. Soon after, many
of his people fell fick, and the weather being
very unfavourable, he could only obferve that
the coaft, as far as forty degrees, lies north weft,
and fouth eaft ; and that in the other two de-
grees, which make up the forty-two, it lies
almofl north and fouth. He added that between
the mouth of the gulf of California, to 37
degrees, he met with three very good harbours,
on the continent: thefe are San Diego in thirty-
two degrees, with another contiguous to it, but
fmaller •, and that of San Diego, which is very
fpacious, being capable of containing many
fliips, and, at the fame time afford both water
^nd wood : and that the third, called Monte-
rey, was flill better, and more convenient for
the
CALIFORNIA. 175
the China galleons, and for the relief of fhips in
their voyage to and from thefe iflands. It is
fituated in 37 degrees north latitude; and its
wood and water preferable, and in greater
plenty than the other ; is well fheltered from all
winds, and along its fhore are great numbers of
pine trees fit for mafts, and lies very conve-
niently for fhips returning from the Philippine
iflands to put into •, and thus, in cafe of florms,
avoid the necefTity of making for Japan, as
they have feveral times done, and expended
great fums of money. Befides they ufually
have fight of the coafl of China, which is an
additioital benefit, as by knowing where they
are, they will not as formerly, in cafe of bad
weather, make for Japan or thofe iflands, as
the fame winds which would carry them thi-
ther, bring them into this fafe harbour. They
further fay, that the climate is mild, and the
country covered with trees, the foil fruitful and
welt peopled, and that the natives are of fo
tradable, kind, and of fo docile a temper, that
they will eafily be converted to the chriftian reli-
gion, and become fubjed to my holy crown.
That their chief fubfiftence is on the fponta-
neous produfls of the earth, and the fiefh they
catch in hunting, of which there is a remark-
able plenty. ' That their cloathing is of the
fkins of fea Wolves, which they have a very
good
j;^ H I S T O R Y O F
good method of tanning and preparing ; and
that they, have abundance of flax, hemp, and
cotton : And that the faid Sebaflian Vifcaino,
carefully informed himfelf of thefe Indians,
and many others whom he difcovered along
the coaft for above 800 leagues, and they all
told him, that up the country there were large
towns, filver, and gold -, whence he is inclined
to believe that great riches may be difcovered,
efpecially as in fome parts of the land veins of
metals are to be fcen \ and that the time of their
fummer being known, a farther difcovery
might be made of them by going within the
country, and that the remainder of it may be
difcovered along the coaft, as it reaches beyond
42 degrees, the limits fpecified to the faid
Sebaftian Vifcaino in his inftrudlions -, he
came to Japan and the coaft of China, and
that he could not return by the mouth of
California, as I had fent orders he ftiould oe
direded, on account of a great mortality
among his people, and the decay of the provi-
fions which obliged him to haften his return.
And the cofmographer Andrew Garcia dc
Cefpedes, having made his appearance in my
royal council of the Indies, together with the
narratives and draughts which were fent with a
Separate plan of each harbour, of thofe difco-
vered by the faid Sebaftian Vifcaino j and hav-
ing
1
CALIFORNIA. 177
ing in council heard the report of the cormo-
grapher, and confidering how much it concerns
the fecurity of Ihips coming from thofe iflands,
in a voyage of no lefs than 2000 leagues, on a
wide and tempeftuous fea, that they fiiould be
provided with a port where they might put in and
furnifh themfelves with water, wood, and prO-
vifions : that the faid port of Monte-rey, lies in
^y degrees, nearly about half way the voyage,
having all the good qualities which could be
defired ; it feems to me that all Ihips coming
from thofe iflands, as they make that coafb,
fhould put into this port, and there refit and
provide themfelves : and in order to the be-
ginning a defign of fuch utility, and that it
may be publickly known, I have by another
commiffion of the fame date, ordered and di-
rected the marquis de Montes Clares, my pre-
fent viceroy of the faid provinces of New Spain,
that he ufe all poffible care and diligence to
find out the faid general Seballian Vifcaino, as
the perfon who made the faid difcovery, hav-
ing coafted it all along from Acapulco to cape
Mendozino. And in cafe he be not living, to
make the like enquiry after the commander of
his fhip, and that on his being found, he imme-
diately prepare to go to thefe iflands, taking
care to carry with him his chief pilot, and that
of the faid commander. And that his going
Vol. L N on
178 HISTORY OF
on this defirable fervice may be with all con--
venient difpatch ; I have alfo ordered the faid
marquis, that the fhips which are to be fent to
thefe iflands be of the ufual form hitherto iifed,
there being little appearance that you have any
Ihips ready of 200 tons, as they are to be agree-
able to a new order which I have ifilied rela-
ting to them, on account of the fhortnefs of
time, and which nominates, as commander of
thofe fhips, Sebaftian Vifcaino, and for his
captain, he who was with him at the difcovery
of the faid port, if they are both living : and in
cafe either of them be dead, the furvivor to be
commander in chief j and for firft pilot, the
perfon who was in that pofl under Sebaftian
Vifcaino, or under his captain, in order that
having the fhips under their charge, they may
,at their return confider the beft manner of ma-
king a fettlement at the faid Puerto de Monte-
rey : and thus introduce the touching at that
port, and carefully inftruft the pilots and fai-
lors on the necelTary particulars of the voyage ;
efpecially two perfons well qualified, whom you
are hereby ordered to fend from thefe iflands,
with the faid general Vifcaino, that they may
be acquainted with the faid port, and may re-
turn general and commander of the fhips,
which are to go from Acapulco to thofe iflands
in the year 1608 j Sebaftian Vifcaino being to
condud;
A
CALIFORNIA; 179
cOndufl the fettlement of the faid port, to
whom, and the faid Sebadian Vifcaino and his
fea captain, it is my will and pleafure that you
in all things fhow all pofilble countenance and
regard. It is alfo my will, that they receive
the pay which other generals and commanders
have received in the faid voyage : and that it
be paid them in the ufuai form and manner.
And that the premifes may obtain the end de-
fired, I charge you to aid and affift them with
the utmofb care and diligence, as I promife my-
felf from your prudence and zeal : and that you
acquaint me with what fhal! be performed.
Dated at San Lorenzo L. Real, on the 19th of
Auguft, 1606.
This royal commiffion places in a full light
the fenfe of the fupreme council of the Indies,,
the king of Spain and his minillry, with regard
to the importance and means of fettling a co-
lony on the weftern coaft of California, by peo-
pling Puerto de Monte- rey. But thefe wife
meafures came to nothing, the royal fchedule
not taking effect ; for the viceroy, in obedience
to the royal command, made enquiry after ge-
neral Sebaftian Vifcaino, who was very readily
found •, but while he was preparing with great
alacrity to accomplifh an enterprife, the great
advantages of which were but imperfedly
known till verified by time and experience -, he
N 2 was
i?a HISTORY OF
was feized with a fatal diftemper, and with
him were buried the well grounded hopes of
the expedition : why fuch pofitive and exprefs
orders of the king w^re not carried into execu-
tion, though the general was dead, remains a
myftery ; we only know, that nothing was
then done, nor has been done, of what was
at that time fo well concerted, and in which,^
the di(5lates of wifdom and long deliberation
were enforced by the power of majefly.
During the fucceeding nine years, inconfi-
derable voyages only were made to California,
and thefe rather to fifli for pearls, or procure
them by barter, than to make any fettlement,
and therefore they have been thought below
any feparate account, efpecially as in the fubfe-
quent royal commilTions they are only menti-
oned in general without any circumftances.
At length, in the year 1615, captain Juan
Iturbi, obtained a licence for making a new
voyage at his own expence. One of his two
fhips was taken by a fet of European pirates,
who made themfelves famous in America, un-
der the name of Pichilingues, and to the great
difhonour of the SpaniHi power infefted the
South-feas, till their infolencies clearly proved
the neceffity of reducing California, as they
there fecurely Iheltered themfelves : with his
other fhip Iturbi entered the bay of California;
3 and
CALIFORNIA. i8i
and proceeded to the height of 30 degrees,
where he obferved that the two coafts of Cina-
loa and Cahfornia gradually approached each
other. But the N. W. winds, and the fhort-
nefs of provifions, hindered him from going
any farther. He therefore thought proper to
return ; but was fo diflrelTed for want of provi-
fions, that he and his company mufl inevitably
have periflied, without the almoft miraculous
relief he met with in the village of Ahome in
Cinaloa ; by means of the mifTionary father
Andres Perez de Ribas, provincial of the je-
fuits in New Spain, who feveral years after-
wards wrote an account of this expedition.
From Ahome he directed his courfe to Cina-
loa, where he received orders from the viceroy
don Diego Fernandes de Cordova, marquis of
Guadal-cafar, to make the belt of his way to
meet and convoy the fhip from the Philippine
idands, which it was greatly feared would fall
into the hands of the Dutch corfairs, who then
openly infefted thofe feas under their own co-
lours, and foon after made themfelves mafters
of the greateft part of the trade to the Eafl:
Indies.
Iturbi accordingly failed from the gulf
into the South-fea, and brought the fhip which
occafioned fo much anxiety, fafe into Aca^
puico : fi'om thence he went to Mexico, where
N 3 Ithe
i82 HISTORYOF
the pearls he brought with him filled the whole
city with admiration. He had a great number of
them, the mod were of a brcwn tincl, occafi-
oned by the Indians, as we have already ob-
ferved, putting the fhells into the fire, in order
to drefs the tlelli of the oyfters. Otiicrs he had
of a larger fort, and without any damage,
which were taken up by his own divers ; and
fo large and clear, that for one only, he paid,
as the king's fifth, 900 crovv'ns.
Thefe pearls animated the Mexicans to at-
tempt the conquefl and fettlement of Cahfor-
nia : a great many private perfons, from the
coafts of Culiacan and Chamctla, madetrips in
fmall boats to the coaft of California, either to
fifh for pearls, or purchafe them of the Indians.
And feveral ads of cruelty and outrage, were
committed on thefe poor people -, which how-
ever did not always efcapepunifliment. A few
adventurers enriched themfelves by this trade :
and there are very furprifing accounts of the
wealth accumulated by Antonio del Cadillo,
an inhabitant of Chametla; which naturally in-
created the univerfal impatience for making
the conqueil. In the year 162 8, Philip IV.
being king of Spain, captain Antonio Baftan
came over to Spain for a licence, offering to
undertake it at his own expence. The fupreme
igouncil of the Indies, by a fchedule of the 2cl
1
CALIFORNIA. 1^3
of Augufl of the fame year, required the mar-
quifs de Cerralvo their viceroy, to fend them
farther informations. The viceroy and council
appointed don Juan Alvarez, auditor of the
royal audience, to colledl proper accounts, and
under pretence of greater certainty, and a more
particular detail, obtained a licence from the
viceroy, for captain Francis de Ortega, to
make a voyage thither at his own expence i
and he was either more fortunate or fkilful than
his predecefTors. He failed in March 1632, in
a vefTel of feventy tons, having with him Diego
de la Nava, a priefl: whom the bifliop of Gua-
dalaxara had nominated vicar of California,
He landed on the fecond of May, and having
taken a particular furvey of the whole coafl,
from San Barnabe's bay, to Puerto de la Paz,
purchafed many pearls, and found the Indians ge-
nerally very friendly and tradable, except in fome
parts, where they had been injured by thofe
who had come thither to trade for pearls. In
June they returned to the coaft of Cinaloa,
whence they proceeded to lay the whole voyage
before the viceroy.
Captain Ortega very probably had found his
account in this voyage, as by permiflion from
the viceroy, he made two other trips thither,
in the years 33 and 34, with an intent of making
a, fettlement. It was his opinion, that the In-
N 4 dians
i84 HISTORYOF
dians of Puerto de la Paz, might eafily be pre-
vailed on to embrace the chriftian religion, and
for the accomplifhment of this moO: defirable
end, with the vicar Nava was fent, another pried
called don Juan de Zunniga. In both voyages
he took care to lay in as large a quantity of pro-
vifions as poffible •, yet in both, they were all
confumed, and he returned to Mexico, having
experienced the fame melancholy circumftances,
all the others had felt before him, namely, the
barrennefs and total want of fuftenance in the
country. He, however, laid before the go-
vernment tv/o propofals -, the firft that the gar-
rifon of Acaponeta fliould be removed as
ufelefs, to the coaft of California,Cinaloa being in a
peaceable condition : and thus that body might
ferve to protedt the conqueft, and be a fafeguard
to fettlers up the country. The fecond, that
a fum of money fhould be allowed in New Spain
for fending provifions to thofe who fhould
fettle there. Fie was very affiduous to procure
the countenance of the viceroy and the miniftry,
to thefe two maxims, which indeed were very
juft and prudent : urging at the fame time, the
immie,dia:te execution of them. He was defirousof
iTiaking a fourth voyage thither, on a fure foun-
dation, but had the mortification to hear
that Eflevan Carboneli his pilot, had obtained
a licence from the viceroy, to make a frelh at-
tempt
CALIFORNIA. 185
Itempt at his own expence. Carboneli had not
only fupplanted his patron Ortega, but like-
wife blamed him, alledging that all the diftrelTes
of the three voyages, were owing to his negledl or
fear, in not landing in California at a higher
latitude -, where he engaged to find a fertile
country, and his people and the fettlers meet
with a comfortable fubfiftence. Full of his
fcheme, he failed for California in the year
1536. But though he went as high as pofTible,
Ivi in all parts, found only Indians, living na-
ked in a barren land, fupporting themfelves
with fhell iilh, fruits, and game, without the
leafl: appearance of culture or harveft. Thus,
after procuring fome pearls, to comfort him in
his difappointment, he returned to New Spain,
where Ortega had the fatisfa6lion of feeing this
new undertaker, become the objed: of publick
derilion.
To this sra, belong the contents of a paper,
publiHied at London, under the title of the
narrative of Bartholomew de Fuentes, com-
mander in chief of the navy in New Spain and
Peru, and prefident of Chili ; giving an account
of the moft rem:>rkable tranfadions and adven-
tures in this voyage, for the difcovery of a
paflage from the South fea, to that of the North
in the northern hemifphere, by order of the
viceroy of Peru, in the year 1 640. This wri-
ting
iS6 HISTORY OF
ting contains feveral accounts relating to Cali-
fornia ; but without entering at prefent into
long difputes, let it fuffice to fay, that Httle
credit is to be given to this narrative. For the
lame reafon we have before omitted the accounts
of voyages made from the South fea to the
North round, beyond CaHfornia -, and thofe of
a contrary diredion, of which an account is
given by captains Seixas and Lobera, in Theatro
Naval, in Spanifh and French; and particularly
of that Spaniard who is fuppofed in three months
to have come from Puerto de Navidad, and
Cabo Corientes to Lifbon. Thefe and other
accounts, difperfed in different books, we de-
fiT.edly omit, as they want the neceffary au-
thenticity. Let us now return to our nar-
rative.
So many unfuccefsful expeditions to California,
fo f^r from indifpofing the minds of people to
any further attempts, feemed rather to inflame
their de fires ; efpecially as feme pearls were
brought from thence, with exaggerated reports
of their prodigious plenty. Befides, as the gene-
rality of thofe, who tranfport themfelves to
America, without any poft. or employment,
are feduced with the hopes of fpeedily acquiring
a fortune with little or no fatigue : and as the
nature and flate of the country, does not afibrd
means for many, even to get a tolerable fupporr,
there
CALIFORNIA. 187
there being no manufadures in which they can
employ themfclves : and working of the mines
and culture of the lands, the two fatal caufes
of the difpeopling and wretchednefs of fuch
fruitful countries, arelaborious, afufficientnum-
ber is always found, who, having little or nothing
to venture, eafily conceive fanguine hopes of
mending their fortunes in fome new enterprife.
The government was actuated by other fprings;
but knowing that great numbers would offer to
ferve, contributed to faciliate the execution. The
importance of the enterprife, after fo many
fruitlefs attempts, being evident, the viceroy
don Diego Lopez Pacheco, marquis de Villena,
and duke of Efcalona, refolved that it fhould be
again attempted at his majefty's expence. But
in order to proceed with greater circumfpeftion
than had been hitherto obferved, he fent direc-
tions to don Luis Ceflin de Canas, governor of
Cinaloa, that as his province lay oppofite to Ca-
lifornia, he fliould, with the foldiersofhisgar-
rifon, pafs over and take a furvey of its coalls,
iflands, bays, creeks, and the difpofition and
nature of the ground -, at the fame time he de-
lired lather Luis de Bonifaz, provincial of the
jefuits, to recommend an able perfon of that
order, to accompany him ; and he very juftly
recommended father Jacinto Cortes, amifTionary
jn the faid province of Cinaloa. There would
have
iSS H I S T O R Y O F
have been little occafion for this preparatory
furvey, after fo many others which had been
continually making for above a century, had
the reports, narratives, charts, draughts, and
maps, which were made, or fhould have been
made, by fo many discoveries, ftill continued in
beino;. But thefe are the effedls of the want of
proper care in preferving papers, a fluilt to be
regretted by pcrfons in power, to whom they
would be of fervice in the condu6l of affairs, and
by private p^-rfons, on account of their intereft,
or as entertainments of a commendable curiofity.
Another caufe of their want of fuch documents,
is the neglefiing to render common and publick,
by means of the prefs, every thing which now
and in future times, may be ufeful to religion
and the flate. But by the lofs of fome papers,
cither through a change in the government, or
irregularity in the records, the whole advantage
of an expedition is loft ; fo that often the expen-
ces muft be renewed, or the difpofitions faulty,
for v/ant of thofe lights which might always be
at hand, without any other coft, than that of a
juft regard to pofierity. At laft the furvey was
made, in the month of July 1642, as appears
from father Cortes's letter, in which he acquaints
the father provincial, that from Cinaloa they
v.'ent to fome iflands, to which they gave the
name of San Jofeph, and that the inhabitants
receive4
CALIFORNIA. 189
received them with pleafure, as being friends of
the Spaniards, who came thither to dive for
pearls ; becaufe they protected them from the
Guicuros, their enemies, who lived on the con-
tinent. From thence, fays father Cortes, we
coafted along the fhore, forty leagues -weft wai'd
to la Paz. He confirms the accounts of the
pearls, the poverty of the natives, and their
good difpofitions for embracing the faith. He
alfo touches upon their cuftoms, and the extent
of the coaft, concluding with a requeft, that
fhould a door be opened for the gofpel among
thefe unhappy creatures, he may be appointed
miflionary to them. The governor likewife fent
his report to the viceroy, which he accompanied
with pearls, colledted in this expedition.
It was now out of the viceroy's power to iflue
the orders he could have wifhed, in confequence
of this account, being at that jundure fucceed-
ed in the government, by don Juan de Palafox
and Mendoza bifiiop de los Angeles, the mar-
quis having been difplaced, from fome ill-ground-
ed fufpicions of his loyalty, fomented by malicious
informations. The marquis returned to Spain»
v/here he honourably cleared himfelf of the
flander, which God at Icrgth caufed to fall on
the heads of its authors. And he might have
returned to IVTcxico, as the offer was made him
by Philip IV. had he not preferred the viceroy-
lliip
igo HISTORYOF
fhip of Sicily, which at that time alfo, flood in
need of a man of the marquis's abilities. How-
ever, he was fo far from forgetting the conqueft
of California, that it was owing to his rcpre-
fentations to the king, that now more numerous
and effeftual preparatives were making for it
than ever. The admiral don Pedro Portel dc
Cafanate, was ordered without delay, to go
from Spain to Mexico, with full power and ne-
cefiaries to equip a fleet, and make fettlements
in California. Alfo to do whatever he thought
would conduce to bring thofe people into the
bofom of the church, and to fecure the coafts,
as dominions of his majefty, for the fafety of
the commerce and navigation of his fubjefts.
The admiral reached New Spain at the end of
the year 1643, and the new viceroy don Garcia
Sarmiento and Sotomayor count de Sal va- Terra,
agreeably to the royal orders afTifted him in the
armament; and jointly with the admiral, con-
ferred the fpiritual government of the iquadron
and of California, on the reverend father of the
jefuits, in a letter written to the provincial fa-
ther Luis de Bonifaz, which I with pleafiire
infert here, as a memorial both of tiie piety and
and courtefy of this excellent viceroy.
" Moit reverend father provincial, his ma-
jefty, whom God preferve, has been pleafed to
commit the dilcovery of California, to the care
and
CALIFORNIA. 191
and diligence of don Pedro de Caflanate, an
affair which many have attempted, without
thoroughly accomplifhing it : and as the con-
fummate experience of this gentleman, in fea
affairs, together with his other abilities, give
the moft certain hopes of the defired effed from
his voyage and endeavours, particularly as he
carries with him fome fathers of your refpedla-
ble company, which gives me great pleafure :
and I prophecy the mofi: happy fucceffes. I
Iliould therefore efteem it an obligation, if your
paternal reverence would condefcend to affifl
him on all occalions. And that you will be
pleafed to order the like to be done in all the
houfes and miffions under your fuperintendance,
as is agreeable to the fervice of God and his
majefty. And your paternal reverence knows,
that you may command me in any thing within
my power. I conclude with requefting you to
fecond this affair, and do all poffible good
offices to admiral Calfmate, Odtober 13th 1643.
The provincial, equally complaifant, acknow-
ledged both to the viceroy and the admiral,
how greatly he approved of their choice, in fo
glorious an expedition, making at the fame
time, a tender of his own perfon, and all de-
pendant on him ; and on the 15th of Odlober,
fent fuitable inflruftions and orders, nominating
the father Jacinto Cortes and Andres Baes,
miffionaries
192 HISTORYOF
mlflionarles of Cinaloa, to accompany the ad-
miral in the defcent. The aftive Caflanate went
over to the ports on the South fea, to haften
the equipment of the lliips, and in 1644, failed
with them for the coafl: of Cinaloa, where he
was to take in the miflionaries, with fome men
and provifions. Being come to Cinaloa, where
every thing feemed to promife, that now the
conqueft could not fail of being compleated, he
received an account. that fome Engiiih and
Dutch privateers had appeared in thofe feas, to
intercept the Acapulco Hiip, with orders to fail
imm.ediately to the South" fea, in order to meet
with, and conduct her into port. This fervice
he happily performed : but while, he was
again preparing to fail on his principal defign,
fome malicious perfons fet two of his (hips on
fire. And thus he faw himfelf under a neccf-
fity of fufpending the entcrprife. This misfor-
tune, however, did not difcourage the admiral,
who ordered two others to be built on the coafl
cf Cinaloa; and in the year 1648, failed with
them, accompanied by the two jefuits. He
took a very careful furvey of the eafcern coaft
of the gulf, with a view of finding a proper
place for fixing the principal garriibn ; but he'
found himfelf furrounded with the fame diffi-
culties, as had fo often rendered the attempt
abortive, the drynefs and fle/ility of the coun-
try.
CALIFORNIA. 193
try. And while he was ftecring from coaft
to coaft, and from bay to bay, he received a
fecond order to meet the Philippine or Acapulco
fhip, which was always in danger from enemies,
who, not content with infulting the dominions
of the Spanifli monarchy, under its then un-
happy ftate of diminution, weaknefs, and total
lofs of reputation, molefted the little commerce
it had ia thefe feas, which its fubjeds had dif-
covered with fo much glory, above a century
paft. The admiral a fecond time brought the
Ihip fafe into Acapulco ; and from thence went
to lay before the viceroy, the difficulties at-
tending the conqueft of California, which for
that time was laid afide ; and fhortly after, this
deferving officer was promoted to the govern-
ment of the exuberant, but poor kingdom of
Chili.
Philip IV. however, a little before his death,
which happened on the 17th of September
1665, had ordered the redudion of California
to be again completed. And the perfon no-
minated to put this order in execution, was don
Bernardo Bernal de Pinadero, but under certain
conditions, both the treafury and nation being
exhaufted, notwithftanding the importation of
fo many millions, which had only ferved to
enrich the other parts of Europe. But Mexico
labouring under that fatal languor, which had
Vol. I, O pervaded
X94 HISTORY OF
pervaded the whole body of the Spanifh monar-
chy, two fmall veflels, built in the Valle de Ven-
deras, were not ready for the expedition till the
year 1 664, when the voyage took place, and
the flilps being arrived at California, their whole
care and employment was to purchafe and filli'
for pearls •, compelling with the mod barbarous
violence, the poor Californians to comply with
their demands. As this avarice and cruelty
little contributed to the capital intention of their-
Voyage, fo it became, in fome meafure, its ownt
punifhmenti for the quarrels among the Spa-
niards, with regard to the riches they had
found, were carried to fuch extremity that fe-
veral were killed and wounded, and the admiral,
to avoid farther confufion, having procured a^
large quantity of pearls, returned to New Spain.
He however met with a cold reception from the
government, and the affair having been debated
in the council of the Indies, the queen mother,
then regent, during the minority of Charles II.
fent orders, that admiral Pinadero fhould be
obliged, conformable to the treaty made with
the king, to attempt another defcent. The
admiral was not averfe to this, and accordingly
in two fhips built at Chacala, he failed on ano-
ther expedition in the year 1667. Father Kino
mentions it, but all he fays, is, that it mif-
carried like all the former.
Nor
CALIFORNIA. 195
Nor was fortune more favourable to captain
francifco Luzenilla, who, in the following year
1668, obtained a licence for an expedition at
his own expence, with two fhips accompanied
by two Francifcans, Juan Cavallero Carranco,
and Juan Baptifta Ramirez. He arrived at
cape San Lucas, and proceeded to make a fet-
tlement at Puerto de la Paz, where the religious
employed their zeal for the converfion of the
natives; but the difficulties were infuperable,
fo that the captain was obliged to abandon his
new fettlement. He next failed to a bay
near the river Hiaqui : from whence the reli-
gious, that their mifiion might not be entirely
fruitlefs, penetrated up the country as far as the
province of Nayaret, where they fpent fome
time in propagating the chriflian religion
among its favage inhabitants ; the care of
whom, the fociety of jefuits undertook fome
years after.
SECT. V.
The larft expeditions to California, till
the end of the reign of Charles il.
During the firft year of the reign and mino-
rity of Charles II. no other expeditions werd
undertaken to California than thofe we have
already mentioned ; but the inhabitants of the
O 2 coaft
ig6 H I S T O R Y O F
coaft of Culiacan, Cinaloa, Yaqui, Mayo, and
New Bifcay, were continually going over in
littje barks, to the eaftern coall, to procure
pearls, either by barter or fifliing. In the mean
time, the necefTity of making a fettlement on
the coaft of California, aftera long deliberation
in the council of the Indies, .was determined,
and inftrudions fent on the 26th of February
.1677, tQ don Francis PayoEnriqiiezde Rivera,
archbilhop of Mexico, and viceroy of New
Spain, that admiral Pinadero fhould be again
employed in the conquefl: of that country, on
his giving fecurity for performing all the articles
that flipuld be agreed on : and that if he de-
clined it, the offer fhould be made to any perfon
that would undertake it at his own expence :
and laft:ly,. if no other method could be difco-
vered, it fhould be done at the expence of the
crown. The enterprife fell to admiral don
Ifedro Otondo and Antillion, who figned an
inftrument for that purpofe in December
1678, and whith was approved at Madrid, by
a warrant of the 29th of December 1679, con-
ferring the fpiritual government on the jefuits,
and father F.ufebio Francifco Kino. On the
r<?ceipt of his majefty's approbation, the admiral
began his preparations, and put to fea from
Chacala, on the 1 8th of May 1683, above fix
years fmce his majefly's firft warrant : and in
X fourteen
i
CALIFORNIA. 197
fourteen days came to Puerto de la Paz. He
had with him two fhips, very well provided
with all kinds of ftores, and above one hundred
men, three of whom were father Kino as fu*
peror of the miffion, and the fathers Juan
Baptifta Copart, and Pedro Matthias Goni.
They were to be followed by a bilander, with
provifions and other flores ; but after feveral
difappointments, flie wandered a long time about
the gulf, without ever getting fight of the fhips.
The admiral and his men continued aboard
five days, without feeing any Indians as they
expefted, on which, at laft.they landed; but
on their beginning to form a garrifon, theydif-
covered the natives armed, and disfigured with
variety of colours, to ftrike.the greater terror;
but feeing a large number of people, they halted
and made threatening geftuixs, intimating that
the Spaniards Ihould quit the coaft. This pro-
ceeded from the abufes their good nature had
fuffered from other Spaniards, who had landed
there. The foldiers drew up, and the miffio-
naries went without any attendants towards
them, with a great number of little prefents,
and fome provifions, intimating by figns, that
they came peaceably. They gave them the
prefents, which the Indians threw on the ground.
But while the fathers were returning, the In-
dians began to eat what they had at firfl thrown
O 3 away
198 H I S T O R Y O F
away with difdain, and immediately haftened
after the fathers, begging for more •, and even
without any fear or fufpicion, followed them
into the garrifon among the foldiers, where they
were fo kindly entertained, that they went
away to their rancherias highly pleafed, fo trac-
table and unfufpeding are all thefe poor Indians
in general. The like happened to another
company of them, which came two days after
to the Spanifh camp, and were kindly enter-
tained by admiral Otondo, who came to fhew
them an experiment of the force of fire-arms,
defiring eight of the mofl robuft of them, to
fhoot their arrows againft one of the leathern
targets which the foldiers carried : which they
did, but could not penetrate it. Whereas a
mufl^et ball fired off before them, made its way
through three targets placed clofe together.
At this, they fhowed the greateft aftonilhment.
It alfo infpired them with fuch terror, that the
Spaniards were under little apprehenfions of any
infults. A church was immediately raifed, to-
gether with fome huts, compofed of branches
of trees. And the admiral having fent a vefTel
to Rio Hiaqui for provifions, began to fend
parties up the country.
The firft directed their way to the fouth weft
of la Paz, as the Indians called Guaycuros
came down from thence to the garrifon, but
always
CALIFORNIA. 199
always armed, and never bringing with them
their wives or children. And at length became
fo tired of their guefts, that they more than
Once ordered them to be gone, and leave their
country. But notwithftanding this, the admiral
with don Francifco Pereda, captain of the ad-
mii-al's fhip and other officers, together with
father Kino and Jofeph de Guijofaj went up the
country efcorted by a party of twenty-five fol-
diers, fome labourers going before, to make
a way through the foreft, the paths being only
paiTable by the naked Indians. After march-
ing feven leagues with great difficulty,they came to
a plain, on which they faw rancherias of the
Indians, who immediately endeavoured to con-
ceal their wives and children : and in order to
this, fome of them came out to receive the
Spaniards and amufe them, telling them that
the aguage or watering place was not there j
but when their families were fecured, they
would fliow it. The Spaniards fpent the night
there, regaling the Indians, and fhewing them
all pofTible marks of kindnefs. But th^y ftill
kept their weapons in their hands, nor did the
chriftians forget the precautions, necelTary to
be obferved in an enemy's country. The next
day, feeing the impoffibity of going further up
the country, on account of its mggednefs, and
the want of water and provifions, the party re-
' - O 4 turned
2eo H I S T O R Y O F'
turned to the garrifon. It was apprehended j
that nothing but the fear of thofe Indians
who had behaved peaceably towards us, re-
trained thefe from falHng upon our men. The
grounds for this fufpicion were, a caution they
ufed, when they faw the Spaniards at their
rancherias, having fecretly fent twelve of tl>e
fwifceil, with a captain to the garrifon j fron^
whence they returned in a few hours, and very
fortunately, without any caufe of complaint from
the commander, or any of his company. The
fecond company went towards the Eaft, headed
by father Goni, but with much more fatigue
and danger, this part being fuller of rocks and
precipices. In a narrow valley they found ano-
ther nation of Indians, called Coras, very mild
and communicative. And after fome reciprocal
marks of kindnefs, they frequently came to the
garrifon, and with fo little fufpicion, that they
often lay among the foldiers.
The Guaycuros were of as different a difpo-
jQtion, openly fhewing their difcontent. And
went fo far as to threaten our men, that if they
did not leave their country, their whole nation
would unite to extirpate them. The Spaniards
bore thefe infults patiently, hoping by a cour-
teous behaviour, to infpire them with better
fentiments, and overcome the oppofition they
made againft a fettlement. But at laft on the
6th
CALIFORNIA. 201.
^th of June, they came on a fuddcn divided
Hito two companies, and after calling out to
the Spaniards to be gone, they attacked the
intrenchments. Thefe were on the point of
dif :harging a paderero, which would certainly
hav- killed feveral of them, but happily obfer-
yed that the admiral was advanced beyond the
lines : and mdeed with an intrepidity which
aftpni;l;ed his men, he haftened up to the moft
advanced company, and fpeaking to the captain
in aloud Rerce manner, accompanied with gef-
tures of t ckntment, the Indian leader was quite
confou/ided, and the two troops quietly return-
ed to cheir lancherias. At this the Guaycuros
began, again to frequent the garrifon, though
always with feme apprehenfion. But a fmgular
accident of no great importance, and a falfc
account too eafily believed, occafioned a very
unhappy rupture.
A mulatto boy belonging to the camp, being
milTing, it was at firft believed, that he had
withdrawn himfelf among fome of the Guay-
curos, in order to remain with them. In a
little time a report, the rife of which was never
known, fpread itfclf among the fold iers and the
people of the garrifon, that the Guaycuros had
murdered the boy. And this report was the
more eafily believed and magnified, from the
fear which many had pf the Guaycuros ; and it
was
602 HISTORY OF
was faid that fome of the Coras knew it to ht
fad. The misfortune was, that not one perfon
underftood the Guaycuros language; and only
one foldier had a flight knowledge of that of the
Coras. The admiral judging it would be dan*
gerous to fuffer fuch audacious attempts, or-
dered when the Guaycuros came to the garrifon,
that their captain fiiould be confined. This the
Indians fo highly refented, that the following
days they came in feveral companies to demand
his liberty 5 infifting at the fame time, with
many menaces, that the Spaniards fhould leave
their country. But feeing that all their mea-
fures had no efted, they determined to unite
their forces, and fall upon the Spaniards unex-
pededly. This refolution being formed, they
invited the Coras, though their enemies, to
join in a caufe, which they reprefented as com-
mon to both nations. But the Coras, though
they offered their afliftance, chofe rather to be
faithful to the Spaniards, on whofe afllftance
againft the Guaycuros, they placed great con-
fidence, than deprive themfelves of fo unex-
pefted a prote(5l;on, againft the frequent de-
predations and violences of the Guaycuros.
And accordingly, by means of this foldier, they
informed them of the plot, and the blow intend-
ed to be given them on the ift of July. The
admiral ordered the centries to be doubled ; a
paderero
q
CALIFORNIA. 203
piderero to be placed on the fide where the In-
dians ufed to come down, and the people
acquainted with their bloody defign. But
fuch was the alarm and dejedion, that he well
underftood he had not with him many of thofc
brave men, who had fubdued America. The
garrifon was ftruck with confternation •, and
whatever the admiral, captains, and the fathers
could fay to animate the people, nothing was
heard but cries and lamentations, as if they
were every one to fall victims to the rage of the
Indians. This -Tcandalous cowardice of his
men, threw the admiral into greater perplexity,
than if whole armies of Californians had appear-
ed againfc them. The day appointed came,
and the Indians (hewed themfelves to the num-
ber of fourteen or fiftt^en hundred, coming
confufedly trom the foreft. They flopped on
the acclivity, as if they waited for fuch of their
companions as were rot in fight : and our peo-
ple concluded, that their intenuon was to draw
them from the garrifon, and attack them in
the open field. But they remained quiet, and
the Indians advanced towards the garrifon.
When they came within a proper diftance, the
padcrero was fired, and killed ten or twelve,
befides wounding others, fo that they immedi-
ately, together with thofe who lay concealed m
the forell, fled precipitately to their rancherias.
Providence,
204 HISTORY OF
Providence, however, permitted that this ill
advifed refolution of the admiral, or the leading
men in his fquadron, fhould fall upon their own
heads. For fo far was the flaughter of thefe
innocent Indians, from removing the confter-
nation of the garrifon, that it became a kind of
pannick, from a notion that all the natives of
California would fall upon them, and take a
dreadful revenge for the death of their country-
men. Another caufe of difcontent, was, that
they had already been three months in the bay,
without any advantage to compenfate for the
great hardfliips they had fuffered. Befides, of the
little provifions remaining, the greateft part
was damaged and rotten. The fhip which had
been fent for provifions to the river Hiaqui,
though not above eighty leagues diftant, not
having been heard of for two months, was gi-
ven over for loft. The difcontent and afflid:ion
of many, grew to fuch a height, that they came
like people in an agony, lamenting and calling
to the admiral, that he would carry them from
there, even though he left them in the neigh-
bouring iflands. The admiral might well have
feared fome plot againft his perfon, had not a
difagreeable experience made him eafy on that
account, for he well knew they wanted courage.
He endeavoured to appeafe them by' motives
of honour, and hopes of relief from the other
1
CALIFORNIA. 205
Ihip; but thefe making no imprefllon, he found
himfelf obliged to prepare for a reimbarkation ;
and left Puerto de la Paz, on the 14th of July.
He flaid fome time among the neighbouring
iflands, with an intent of returning to la Paz,
if the other fhip and the bilander came in time.
The fhip had immediately on its arrival at
Hiaqui, been fupplied by the miflionaries ; and
putting to fea, came three times in fight of Ca-
lifornia, without being able to reach the Ihore;
and was three times obliged, amidft very ftormy
weather, to put back to the river Hiaqui.
The third time they got intelligence by fome
pearl boats, that the admiral was failing for
cape San Lucas, on which they endeavoured to
meet him. From this cape, the admiral re-
folved to return to Cinaloa for a fupply of pro-
vifions, and to attempt a fecond landing in a
higher latitude, where he was informed the
country was more convenient, and the In-
dians of a more friendly difpofition.
Accordingly, having in Hiaqui harbour fold
a great part of his effeds, and even pledged
his plate and furniture, in order to purchafe
ftores, he failed again for California ; and, on
the 6th of 0(5lober, came to an anchor in
twenty-fix. degrees and half latitude, in a large
bay, which he called San Bruno, being the an-
niverfary feflival of that faint. The very fame
day.
766 H I S T O R Y O I^
day, with three milTioilaries and fome Toldiers,
he went in queft of water, which he found
jtE thediftance of half a league ; fo that the fi-
tuatron being approved of, and the Indians
tractable and friendly, on the thirddayagarrifon
was formed, and immediately a church with
fome cottages were began. He now difpatched
the fmaller Ihips for provifions and letters to the
viceroy, giving him an account of his proceed-
ings, arnd defiring a fupply of money, both
which he obtained, and again took poflelTion
of California, in his^majefty's name, with the
ufual ceremonies,- an act often performed with
more pomp than advantage. After thefe ce-
remonies, and being attended by the fathers,
he made his firlt progrefs up the country, in
December of the fame year 1683V to beyond
twenty- five degrees weftward ; treating all the
Indians as he met, with the utmoft kindnefs,
and inviting them to the garrifon. The fecond
progrefs was towards the fame quarter, but
with a defign of reaching the oppofite coaft on
the South fea. After three days travelling,
they came to a mountain which they were
obliged to afcend on foot, with great fatigue.
Gn the fummit they found a wide plain, feveral
leagues in extent, and on it fomre. rancherias,
which had been forfaken by the natives. Near
a potnd of rain water, they were met by feven-
teen
CALIFORNIA. 207
teen Indians, who, in token of their peaceable
intentions, threw away their bows and arrows.
The miflionaries, by figns and fome words they
had already learned of their language, paid
them their compliments, and invited them to
the garrifon of San Bruno. They enquired of
them the diftance to the South fea •, and were
informed that not far off was a fmall river run-
ning into it. But though they went forward,
along a very rugged country, from mountain
to mountain, they were flill difappointed with
regard to difcovering the South fea ; and were
obliged to return to the garrifon, after a very
toilfome journey of fifty leagues, by unavoida-
ble circumvolutions, in a country full of pre-
cipices, and without any known road. For
the diftance betwixt fea and fea, in a dired line,
is not lefs than 50 leagues.
In thcfe and the like landings and progrefTes,
the admiral fpent above a year, the fathers in
the mean time, diligently applied themfeives
to learn the two languages which are fpoken in
that country. When they had attained a tole-
rable knowledge of thcfe tongues, they tran-
dated into it the chief articles of the chriftian
do(5trine. But what put them to the greateft.
trouble in this, was, to find fome Indian words,
to exprefs this article, he arofe from the dead.
Here it was neceflary to have recourfe to in-»
vention.
ioS H I S T O R Y O F
veiition, of which neceffity' is juftly filled the
mother : and according to father Kino's letter,
to his mafter father Henry Scherer, it was the
following. They took feme flies, and in pre-
fence of the Indians, put them under water
that they were thought to be dead : but on plac-
ing them among fome afhes, and expofing them
to the rays of the fun, the vital faculties of the
flits were recovered, and foon came again to
life. The Indians in a rapture of aftoniihment,
cried out, Ibimuhueite! Ibimuhueite! Thefc
words the fathers wrote down, and making
further enquiry, they applied it to import the
refurrecftion of our Saviour, and of the dead,
being in want of a better word for explaining
Our myfteries to thefe people. Having now
drawn up a catechifm, they applied themfelves
entirely to the inftru6lion of the Indians, efpe-
cially the children. They foon, by the help of
leveral inventives, learned the heads of our
dodtrine, in their own language, and in Spanilh;
and every day kneeling, and with their hands
joined, they repeated it in the form of a prayer
with the fathers. From being fcholars, they
became the matters of their parents and relations ;
and though of an age, naturally improper for
fuch an office, they proved fuccefsful catechifts.
By thefe means, feconded with the indefatiga-
ble labour of the fathers, they had the pleafure
of
t A L I t!" O R N i A. 209
of feeing in that year above four hundred adult
catechumens prepared for baptifm. But the fa-
thers, who were always fearful for the fuccefs
bf the ehterprife, did not baptize any, unlefs at
the point of death. Thirteen according to fa-
ther Kino, were baptized in this manner, three
of whom recovered ; and with the confent of
their parents, the admiral brought them away,
and delivered them to the bifhop of Guadalaxara,
who received them with the greateft marks of
affedlion. The fathers were pleafing themfelves
with the docility of the Indians, and their wil-
lingnefs to embrace the tenets of the chriftian
religion -, but the admiral was far from finding
the fame fatisfaflion in the country, of which he
had received fuch promifing information ; for
experience had convinced him, that it would be
very difficult to maintain a fettlement in that
place. He therefore gave orders to the captain
of his leaft Ihip, to take a careful furvey of the
coafb on the north fide, in order to find out a
more convenient fituation ; accordingly he went
among the Indians, who dive for pearls, the
placeres or pearl beds being much fcarcer in this
place than in la Paz, ufing all poffible expedition
in the execution of thefe orders ; both on ac-
count of the difpatches, received from the
viceroy, requiring an account of his proceedings,
and likewife a reprefentation delivered to him
yoL. I, P by
210 HISTORYOF
by the foldiers, and figned with their names,
fetting forth. their hardfliips and ficknefles, oc-
cafioned by the bad quality of the foil and
climate. In order to comply with both, he
called a council of the officers and miffionaries,
and requiring that each Hiould fign his opinion,
that of the majority of the officers, was for
quitting the garrifon of San Bruno, as an un-
wholfome barren country. The fathers moved
for flaying Ibme time : for no rain having fallen
for eighteen months, a competent judgment
could not be formed of the country, from the
time they had continued there. The admiral
to thefe opinions, added his own, informing the
viceroy likewife, of the inftrucflions he had
given to the Capitana or fmaller fhip; and of
what he intended to do. The fick were put on
board a fhip, and with them he failed to the
coaft of Cinaloa, fending away a packet to the
viceroy; and having again furnillied his fhip,
went on the difcovery of pearl beds ; till in Sep-
tember 1685, being in the harbour of San
l^natio, he received the refolution, taken by
the viceroy in a general council, by which he
was ordered, that after fuch vaft expences, he
fhould not attempt a fettlement in any other
part; only taking care, if poffible, to main-
tain what he had conquered, and wait the fu-
ture refult of the difcoveries. The Capitana,
not
CALIFORNIA. 211
not finding what fhe was fent in queft of, after
great difficulties returned to San Bruno. Not long
before the admiral had put into this harbour,
but in a few days, the garrifon wanting provi-
Cons, and the obftrudions to that fettlemenr,
of which he was fo very defirous, being unfur-
mountable, he embarked all the people, toge-
ther with the miffionaries and the three Califor-
nians, and failed to the harbour of Matanchel,,
whence he fent advice to the viceroy of his
arrival. Here he received orders to put to fea
iinmecjiately, and take under his convoy the
Philippine fhip, which he fortunately met with
two or three days after he had failed, and brought
her fafe to Acapulco, to the difappointment of
fome Dutch privateers, who were waiting for
her along the coail of Navidad.
Hence he want to Mexico, where he gave
an account to the viceroy, and the miniftry, of
the feveral obfervations, difcoveries, and inci-
dents, in his fruitlefs expedition i in which, be-
fides the wafte of three years, were expended
two hundred and twenty-five thoufand crowns
of the royal revenue. The viceroy gave orders
for the examination of the whole affair, in a
general council ; and after a mature deliberation
on all the difficulties, it was refolved, that the
conquefl: of California was impradicabJe by
thofe means j that however, the redudlion of
P 2 ir.
212 H I S t O R Y O F
it, fhould be recommended to the fociety of
thejefuits, with an offer of the neceffary fums,
to be paid annually our of the king's treafury.
Accordingly in the council, held on the nth
of April 1686, the treafurer of the audience,
admiral Otondo and father Kino, were ordered
to make an eftimate of the neceffary fums, and
that the faid treafurer, fhould go with the pro-
pofal to father Daniel Angelo Marras, vice-
provincial-, father Rernabe deSoto the provincial,
being abfent on the vifitation. The treafurer
delivered a draught of the offer to father Marres,
who with the unanimous opinion of the chapter,
convened on the occafion, anfwered, that
the fociety entertained the mofl grateful fenfe
of the honour done them in that confidence ;
but faw very great inconveniences in taking
upon themfelves the temporal concerns of fuch
a conqueft in the manner expreffed ; yet Ihould
be always ready to fupply neceffary miffionaries,
as they had done in the preceding expeditions.
The treafurer, purfuant to frefli orders from the
council, repeated his infta^ices ; but the fociety
could not be brought to recede from their firft
opinion.
On this difappointment, the royal council
were fo perfuaded of the impraflicability of the
conqueft by the ufual means, that the petition
of captain Francifco Luzenilla, for licence to
attempt
CALIFORNIA, 213
attempt it at his own expence, with a fmall al-
lowance from the king, was rejecfted. However,
the difficulty added new ardour and defire for
the enterprife. The fame political and religious
motives fubfifted, and frefli orders and proofs
of the king's pleafure, came over from Spain.
Thus after an exad calculation of theexpences,
it was found that it would require no lefs than
thirty thoufand crowns per annum, the treafu-
rer affirming in his memorial of the 14th of
March, that this expence was unavoidable, the
calculation having been made with all poflible
frugality. Accordingly the faid fum was or-
dered to be advanced to admiral Otondo, to
enable him to make a third attempt. Thus
the concerns of the conquefl were now as it
were received, when in the very week that the
monies were to be paid to the admiral, letters
came from Spain, in which the king required
five hundred thoufand crov^^ns, though raifed by
loan, together with a fchedule of the 2 2d of
December 1685, dire<5ting that the enterprife to
California Ihould be laid afide, during the con-
tinuance of the war with the Tarrahumares.
Thus a period was put to the expedition, and
though the revolt of the Tarrahumares was
foon after quelled, yet the conquefl of Califor-
nia at the royal expence, was no longer
jthought of. Indeed in the year 1 694, a licence
P 3 was
a I
4 HISTORY O F, &c.
was granted to captain Francifco Itamarra, for
making a defcent at his ov/n expence. But he
had no better fuccefs than his predeceflbrs, re-
turning with an account, that the Indians of
San Bruno and their neighbours, were very
urgent for the mifTionaries to be fent them ac-
cording to promife. Such was the iffue of fo
many expeditions, carried on at fuph an im-
menfe charge, for the fpace of ne^r two cej^-
turies.
A
NATURAL and CIVIL
HISTORY
O F
CALIFORNIA.
PART IIL
Redudion of California by the
jefuits and their tranfadtions , to the
prefent time.
SECT. L
Firft entrance into California, by father
Juan Maria de Salva-Tierra, in the year
1697.
WE have {ctn the ardour with which the
conqueft of Cahfornia was profecu-
ted, for the fpace of two centuries,
fince the difcovery and conqueft of New Spain;
and at the fame time, the very little advantage
pf fuch a feries of expeditions. The great con-
queror Hernand Cortes, feveral times employed
P 4 on
2i6 HISTORY OF
on it, the whole force he could raife. His exam-
ple ftimulated many private perfons ; governors,
admirals, and viceroys, embarked in it on their
own bottoms. At laft the kings of Spain them-
felves, took the fcheme into their hands ; yet
all the refult of fuch vaft expences, fuch powerful
efforts, was, that the reduction of California was
given over as unfurmountable : and fo indeed
it was by the means made ufe of by men, but
not by thofe which God had chofen. Arms and
power were the means on which men relied, for
the fuccefs of this enterprife. But it was the
will of heaven, that this triumph fhould be ow-
ing to the meeknefs and courtefy of his minifters^
to the humiliation of his crofs, and the power
of his word. God feemed only to wait till
human force acknowledged its weaknefs, to
difplay the ftrength of his Almighty arm, con-
founding the pride of the world, by means of
the weakefl inilruments ; poffibly God was not
pleafed to countenance the firfl enterprifes on
California, whillt the capital objedl was tempo-
ral good, and religion only a fecondary motive.
And on the contrary, he profpered the defign,
when his kingdom was the motive, and the ad-
vantage of the monarchy only confidere(4
as a probable confequence.
The conferences at Mexico being broke up,
and the door Ihut by the king's order, to all
further
CALIFORNIA. 217
flirther enterprifes on California, the fathers
who had accompanied admiral Otondo, were
diftributed to other miflfions : yet continued full
of folicitude for reaping that plentiful harveft,
which they had feen in California, fo ripe for
the fickle of the gofpel •, particularly father
Eufebio Francifco Kino, had the conqueft very
much at heart, and it did not appear fo difficult
to him as to others. This father, purfuant to
a vow made at the point of death, to faint
Francis Xavier, had quitted the profefTorfhip
of mathematicks at Ingoldftadt, where he was
honoured with particular favours from the elec-
toral houfe of Bavaria, and come over to
America. As he had propofed to himfelf this
holy apoftle for his model, he imitated his vir-
tues, and all the other qualities of his feraphick
mind. He had a heart equal to the greateft
enterprifes : his zeal was indefatigable, the ad-
vancement of his faith was his chief thought :
his capacity accommodated itfelf to all circum-
ftances ; and in all, he found refources beyond
the reach of others. His confummate know-
ledge in the ufeful fciences, as they animated
him to undertake, fo they were of fpecial ufe to
him in the execution. His liberality and fweet-
nefs of manners, procured him an abfolute
afcendancy over the hearts of all ; even the mofl
favage were never known to revolt againft his
perfuafionSj^
2iS HISTORY OF
perfuafions, which he delivered with fuch a
mildnefs and cordiality, as gained him their
entire confidence. It was a man like this, which
the conqueft of California required. However,
though it was undertaken by his advice, and he
fupported it, yet he was not the perfon chofen
by heaven ; but another who very nearly re-
fembied him in his fine qualities. Father Kino
defired to be appointed for the miflions of So-
nora, hoping from that province, as contiguous
to California, the gulf of which walhes its coafts,
to accomplifh an entrance into it, and in pro-
cefs of time, the redudion of it.
With this view, he left Mexico the 20th of
Odober 1686, and travelled all over the coun-
try, to inflame the minds of the miflion^ry
jefuiTs, with the mod ardent dcfires of fecond-
ing fo glonous aa enterprife. He himfelf had
afked permilTion of the father general for ma-
king this journey ; and father Francjfco Maria
Piccolo, and father Francifco Xavier Saeta, who
a little after had the happinefs of fuffering mar-
tyrdom at Pimeria, had alfo requefted the likQ
indulgence. About this time father Juan Ma-
ria Salva-Tierra, who for many years had
diftinguilhed himfelf as a rpiffionary, in the pro-
vince of Tarrahumara, returned as vifitant to
the miflions of Cinaloa and Sonora. In this laft
government, he was met by father Kino, on his
entrance
CALIFORNIA. 219
entrance into the miflions of Pimeria, adjacent
to the pagan Apaches, which father Kino was
enlarging with a fuccefs equal to his afllduity and
labour. There could not be a more proper perfoa
th^n father Salva-Tierra, who came nearer to the
ardour, fweetnefsjand benevolent difpofitlon of fa-
ther Kino 5 and he was the perfon whom God
had chofen to be the apoftle of California \ and
had furnifhed him in a very extraordinary man-
ner, with all the talents neceflary for fuch a
difficult fervice. He was of a flrong robuft con-
ftitution, bearing fatigue and hardlhips without
affeding his health. His judgment and pru-
dence had recommended him to the unanimous
approbation of the fociety, for the high polt
he had enjoyed. He was of the moft
endearing gentienefs in difcourfe ; had all the
intrepidity and refolution, requifite for the
beginning and conducting the greateft enterpri-
fes. The opinion of his wifdom and intelleflual
talents, had gained him univerfal efteem, which
was heightened to veneration by his chriftian
virtues. Such was the man whom heaven had
formed a chofen vefTel, for introducing chrif-
tianity among the unhappy Californians. Du-
ring the vifitation, father Kino gave him a full
account of the good difpofition of the Califor-
nians, for receiving the faith : and of the means
for giving a happy ilTue to an enterprife, in
which
220 HISTORYOF
which fuch efforts had been made during two
centuries. This they talked of when they w^re
travelling: it was the fubjeft both of their
pub lick and private converfations ; ai»d father
Kino writes " that the pious zeal of father
Juan Maria de Salva-Tierra was fo movin»,
that he immediately determined to endeavour
by all poflible methods, to obtain admiffioft
into California.
And this was accordingly accomplilhed by
father Salva-Tierra in the following year, though
for the fake of brevity, we fhall omit the par-
ticulars of the extraordinary fervices performed
by him, for accomplifhing this fcheme. The
fociety oppofed the undertaking, and three
provincials, Ambrofio, Oddon, Diego Almo-t
nacir, and Juan de Palacios, repeatedly refu-
fed him a licence, looking upon the enterprifc
as impoffible. The audience of Guadalaxara,
and the viceroy, alfo oppofed it, the treafury
being empty, and the affair of Otondo ftill
recent. In fine, it was oppofed by the court of
Madrid, where father Salva-Tierra's reprefen-
tations to his majefly, in his council of the
Indies made no imprefiion. In fhort, all the
world declared againft the defigns of this religi-
ous man. At laft, however, the difficulty feem-
ed to be removed, and the fathers Salva-Tierra
^nd Kino, came to Mexico on the 8th of Ja-
nuary
CALIFORNIA. 22t
ftuary 1696; one from Guadalaxara, and the
other from the center of the province of Pime-
ria, above five hundred leagues diftant from the
capital. Both came to folicit permiflion for
going to California, and father Kino to defire
the addition of fome miflionaries, to aflift him
in fowing the feed of the gofpel, in the many
nations he had vifited in that remote province.
They made the mod ftrenuous reprefentations,
for licence and proper afTiflance in their enter-
prife to California : but it was all in vain, and
they found themfelves obliged to return, one
to his miflion of los Pinas, and the other to the
care of his novices at Tepotzotlan.
But father Salva-Tierra, was not intimidated
by thefe powerful oppofitions, he a fecond time
petitioned for the father general's licence,
to undertake this miflion. That office was
then filled by father Tyrfo Gonzales de Santa-
Ella, whofe learning and writings had done
honour to the univerfity of Salamanca, and his
miflions, which comprehended the whole king-
dom, had been attended with amazing benefits.
In the converfion of the Moors, he had labour-
ed with an unparalleled fuccefs : and animated
by the fame ardour, he promoted the miflions
to the utmoft of his power, and came to Ame-
rica very feafonably to relieve father Salva-
Tierra from any farther labour, if the conquefl
of
222 HISTORYOJ
of California, was judged pra6ticabJe at Mexico;
This licence arrived foon after the father had
left Mexico, where after a long oppofition, his
fuperiors allowed him to make new preparative^
for the enterprife. The audience of Guadalax-
ara, now faw things in a very different light ;
and efpoufed his defigns with fuch vigour, that
the folicitor don Jofeph de Miranda Villizan,
a man of uncommon parts, became his moft
active friend, afiifting the father in every
thing, and afted as his faithful correfpondent.
This folicitor on the i6th of July 1696,
ftrongly petitioned the audience, proving that
the expedition deferved their encouragement ;
accordingly it was ordered that a letter Ihould
be fent to the viceroy, recommending it to his
protedion. The difficulties however, which
ftill remained very great, but not able to were
ftagger father Salva-Tierra.
In the beginning of the year 1697, father
Salva-Tierra came from Tepotzotlan to Mexico^
being now authorized by the fuperiors of his
order, to raife colle6lions for beginning a work,
in which the fleets and treafures of kings had
failed. Here he met with a valuable compa-
nion -in father Juan Ugarte, profefTor of philo-
fophy in that college. This father likewife had
the conqueft very much at heart, and among
Other talents, he was poffeOed of a fingular
addrefs,
J
CALIFORNIA. 223
addrefs, in the management of temporal affairs,
and bringing them to the moft happy ifluc.
But as this conqueft of California was not to be
undertaken, without having in Mexico an agent
by whofe prudence and attention, any fudden
difficulties might be removed, and who would
take care to collefl and fendfuccours from time
to time, to the perfons engaged in it ; father
Ugarte undertook this office, and performed it
with fuch fcdulity, that though he refidcd at
Mexico, he infured the fuccefs of father Saiva-
Tierra's expedition to California.
Soon after, don Alonfo Davalos, count dc
Mira Vallez, and don Mattheo Fernandez de
la Cruz, marquis de Buena- Villa, promifed the
fociety two thoufand dollars, and the liberali-
ties of other benefactors, amounted to fifteen
thoufand. Don Pedro de la Sierpe, treafurer of
Acapulco, offered to lend a galliot for carry-
ing them over, adding a long boat, as a gift.
But as the conqueft was flill on no fure foun-
dation for want of funds to produce an annual
revenue, the congregation of the Nueftra Sen-
nora de los Dolores of Mexico, founded in the
college of faint Peter and faint Paul, gave eight
thoufand dollars, as a fund for one miffion, to
which they afterwards added two thoufand more,
an annual income of five hundred dollars being
computed the loweft that could be allowed each
miifion.
224- HISTORYOF^
miflion, as lying in a country, which befidei
being at a great diftance, and on the fide of thd
fea, was in want of every thing. Further don
Juan Cavalero y Ozio, prieft of the city of
Qiieretaro, commiflary of the inquifition, a man
of great wealth, but of equal munificence, fub-
fcribed twenty thoufand crowns, as a fund for
two other miffions, and aflTured father Salva-
Tierfa that he would honour whatever bills
came to his hands figned by him. Such pro-
mifing beginnings, animated the fathers to ap-
ply for a licence from the viceroy, count de
Motezuma, a nobleman whofe memory New-
Spain ought never to forget. The father pro-
vincial Juan de Palacios, addreffed him in a
very elegant and judicious memorial. He met
with great difficulties in the royal council, till
after various reprefentations, as nothing was
here allied of the king, and that by the treafury
iDOoks, admiral Orondo's expedition appeared
:o have coft his majefty two hundred and
tv/enty-five thoufand four hundred dollars, the
licence was granted on the 5th of February
1627. The warrants were delivered to father
Juan Maria Salva-Tierra, permitting and im-
powering himfelf and father Kino to make an
entrance into California on two conditions : firft
not to wafte any thing belonging to the crown,
or draw on the treafury, without an exprefs
order
CALIFORNIA. 225
order from the king; and the fecond to take
poUl-nion of th.c country in his majerty's name.
The powers granted to them were the enlifling
of fokliers at their own cxpence for their
guard, appointing a commander, difcharging
* him and the foJdiers, notifying it at the fame
time to the viceroy : likev/ife that thefe fhoiikl
enjoy the ufual immunities, and their ferviccs
be accounted the fame as in time of w<lr : and
laftly that the fathers riiight appoint proper
perfons for the adminiflration of juftice in the
new conqueft. Father Salva-l'ierra now
haftened his departure for Mexico, and leav-
ing to father Ugart(! the care of colle^ling and
laying out the contributions, and fending vcf-
fels from Acapulco to the river Hiaqui i on
the 7th of February he hh that capita!, taking
with him the catechifm and papers -in father
Copart's language ; and on his arrival at Tc-
potzothm,' took his leave of his novices in the
moft pathetic manner, ther* having ah^ays
been the moft tender and mytual afleCtion be-
tween them. At Guadalaxara lie conk^rred
with the audience and his libera! friend the fol-
licitor Miranda, concerning his expedition.
From hence he went on to Ciijaloa ; where he
gave the neceffary orders •, and ufed the utmoft
diligence, though unhappily in vain, to find out
the tvv-o chriftian Californians who had been
Vol. I, Q^ brought
226 H I S T O R Y O F
broLigbt over by the admiral Otondo. Thejr
were ftill living •, but concealed by the execra-
ble avarice of a wretch who employed them in
his farm : an incident of the moft melancholy
confcquences. Here he fent for his chofen
companion father Kino ; but in the mean time
took a journey for vifiting his former refidence
in the mountains of Chinapas. He went up
as far as Sierra of the Tarahumara, and as he
was returning, pleafed with the condition in
which he had found thefe infant communities,
was informed of the infurredion of the Indians
of high Tarahumara. Immediately his mind
was alarmed with the danger of the miflionaries
Nicolas de Prado, and Martin de Vinavides,
under whofe care this country then was, and
who had no other defence than the fidelity of
their new converts : he ventured to afTift them,
and with them went through a thoufand dangers
from the hands of the apoflates, till the Spani-
ards of the nei.g-hbourins: Erarrifon came to their
afilftance. Here he ftaid till the middle of Au--
guft ; and in his return received advice that the
galliot had been at Hiaqui for fome time. He
th(^refore quickened his march, and at Hiaqui
was informed by captain Juan Antonio Romero
de la Sierpe, that he had been {tven months in
his pafTagc amidft variety of dangers and bad
weather, rocks, and fcarcity of provifions ; as
3 likewife
i
CALIFORNIA. 227
likewife from the dilcontent of the fhip's com-
pany, when they came to know that they were
not going to Cahfornia to fifli for pearls, as
they had imagined. He ftaid in this port two
months, both to procure a frefli fupply of pro-
vifions, thofe taken on board in New GaHcia
not being fit for ufe, wait for fome foldiers
which had been offered him, and likewife for
father Kino whom he had fent for. The fol-
diers were hindered from coming by the infur-
redipn of the Tarahu mares. Father Kino im-
mediately fet out : but to his extreme concern
was detained by father Horatio Police, the
xnfitor, and don Domingo Gironza Petris de
Crufat, chief magillrate of the province of
Sonora, through fear that the like rebellion,;
would in fo critical a junfture, fpread itfelf
among other nations. Father Francifco Ma-
ria Piccolo, was therefore nominated in his
room : but father Salva-Tierra, apprehending
new delays, determined to go to California
without waiting for him. Accordingly he left
the harbour of Hiaqui on the 10th of Oftober^
1697. Father Salva-Tierra's military atten-
dants, were as peculiarly devoted to this enter-
prife, and confided of five foldiers with their
commander •, don Luis de Torres Tortolero,
enfign, and firil captain of the garrifon of Ca-
lifornia, don Eitevan Rodrigues Lorenzo,
Q 2 who
228 H I S T O R Y O F
who afterwards was many years a captain,
Bartholome de Roblcs Figueroa, a Creol of the
province of Guadalaxara, Juan Caravana, a
Maltefe failor, Nicolas Marques, a Sicilian fai-
lor, and Juan, a Peruvian mulatto: befides
■whom were three Indians, Franclfco de Tepa-
hui of Cinaloa, Alonfode Guayavas of Sonora,
and Sebaftian of Guadalaxara.
With this fmall force the father failed for
California on the day above mentioned, in the
galliot, taking with him the long boat, which
foon became neceflary ; for the galliot had not
got above half a league from the harbour, before
a furious fquall of wind came on and drove
her afliore. where fKe fluck fall in the fand, and
to all appearance there was little hope of fafety.
However by the help of the long boat, and the
fkill of the feamen, fhe floated with the flood,
and was foon out of danger. On the 3d day
they made California ; but the long boat being
feparatcd from the gallior, and at a lofs whatk
coait 10 fteer, they touched at Conception bay,
■:^o leagues northward ot Loretto. They alfo
took a view of the bay of San Bruno, where
Otondo had pitched his camp : but this was
not approved of, as being far from the fea,
and aiibiuing only brackifli water, cfpecially
as Juan Antonio Romere de la Sierpe, captain
of the gnlliot, hadofi'cred tofliew them a much
more
1
CALIFORNIA. 229
inore convenient place, which he had feen in
Otondo's expedition. This was in the bay of
San Dionyfio ten leagues fouth of San Bruno,
where the coaft forms itfelf into the fliape of a
half moon near five leagues from point to point.
The country near it was covered with trees and
other verdure, with a fufficiency of frefli water
not far from the lliore. Here they arrived and
landed on Saturday the 19th of October, and
were received with great joy and afFedion by
above 50 Indians of the neighbouring ran-
cheria, and others from San Bruno. A conve-
nient fpot near a watering place, about a league
and a half from the fliore was chofen for an en-
campment : the provifions and animals were
landed together with the baggage. The father,
though the head of the expedition, being the
firft to load his fhoulders. The barracks for
the little garrifon were now built, and a line of
circumvallation thrown up : in the center a tent
was pitched for a temporary chapel. Before it
was erec^led a crucifix with a garhnd of flowers;
and every thing being difpofed in the bed man-
ner pofTible, the image of our lady of LorettOj
as patronefs of the conqueft, was brought in
procefTion from the galliot, and placed with
proper folemnity. Immediately afterwards, on
the 25th of Oftober, of the fame year 1697,
pofTciTion was taken of the country in his ma-
Q. 3 jejty's
230 HISTORY O F
jcRy's name. Father Sulva-Tiena now applied
himfelf to learn the language and inftriift the
Indians, appointing particular hours for this
exercife, when the Indians came and repeated
the prayers, and parts of the catechifm which he
read to them by means of father Copart's pa-
pers, after v/hich, the father ufcd to liften, and
write down their difcourfe in order to learn
the language. He talked to them and the In-
dians, and by that means correded his miftakes
in the words and pronunciation. He uied fe-
yeral contrivances for the more fpeedy ir)fl:ru6l-
ing the boys in the Spanifli, thoiigh not with-
out being laughed at by them, and the adults,
for his wrong pronunciation ; an.d their banters
are attended with no little art and pleafantry.
"When all was over, he ufed to diilribute with
his own hands, q.mong thofe who attended the
exercifes, an allowance of pozoli or boiled
maiz. Thefe particulars may poffibly appear
trifles not worth mentioning •, but let me en-
treat the reader to try their value in the balance
ofreafon. Let him refleft what an agreeable
fight it muft be even in the eyes of the divine
Being himfelf, to fee a man who might have
acquired a large fortune by a fecular em-
ployment, and had even jived in quiet and ef-
teem within the order he had cholen, volunta-
rily banilli himfelf from his country and rela-
tions,
A ■
CALIFORNIA. 231
tions, to vifit America ; and when there, rc-
lign his employments, and leave a tranquil
life for difappointments and fatigues : to live
among favages, amidft diftrcfs and continual
dangers of death, without any other motive,
than to employ himfelf in fuch low andobfcure
aftions, for the converfion of the Indians. At
lead, let every one afk himfelf, whether any
worldly intereft whatever, could induce him to
fuch a refolution ? and he will eafily be convin-
ced of the importance and dignity which thefe
aflions, fo contemptible in the eyes of mortals,
receive from the fublimity of the motives.
SECT. II.
Various incident-s till the entrance of father
Francis Maria Piccolo, into California.
This fmall garrifon being now fomething
fettled, father Salva-Tierra fent the galliot to
the river Hiaqui, to bring father Piccolo with
fome foldiers and provifions, having ordered
the captain to look out by the way for the long-
boat. The galliot left San Dionyfio, on the
26th day of Oftober, and in the mean time, the
active father remained in the garrifon, perform-
ing the duty, not only of a miiTionary and
father of a family, but likewife of officer and
foldier 5 iflliing proper orders, and at the mod
0^4 inconvenient
232 H I S T O R Y O F
inconvenient hours Handing centinel, the ne-
cefiity of which foon appeared : for the Indians
liking the pozoH, orboilec!maiz,and defiringthat
a larger allowance than ufual, which was half a
bufhel a day, fhould be given then", though they
did not come to the cutechirm, broke our into
complaints, and tliough every gentle method
v/as tried to faihfy them, they proceeded to
pilfer among the facks. Thus there was a ne-
ceiTity for keeping them from the garrilbn, and
accordingly fome precautions were taken. This
inflamed at once their appetite and rcfentment :
and at length depending on the great fiiperio-
rity of their numbers, determined to make
themll-lves maflers of the vvholc, by killing the
lather and the Spaniards. Some of better dif-
pofitions, reproached their countrymen for fuch
ingratitude and brutality, but this had little
effecf. Ilowevcr, before breaking out into an
open war, they fell upon the few goats and
cattle which had been brought over, whilft
they were fcecling in a kind of a clofe, which
had been made for thit purpofe, and by their
moticins, ieemed todelignanaflault on tiiecamp.
The fathei', though acquainted with :heir fickle-
nefs, did not difcontinue his ufual cxercifes,
and the dillribution of the pozoii. I'he night
of the gift of 0(5lober had been pitched on for
SL^tiif^idl aflaui!:. This refolu'jL':! the fathrr
was
CALIFORNIA. 233
was informed of by an Indian cafique, who,
jjeing fick, had requefted to be baptized, and
was the firft who received that facred initiation.
The father could ^ot help being under great ap-
prehenfions, though he hoped every thing from
providence, who he knew, in fome extraordi-
nary manner, v/ould work his deliverance. At
midnight they heard a mufket (hot, which was
anfvvered by another from the camp. Imme-
diately after, a paderero was fired from the fea.
The camp iilfo fired another, which had been
jeft by the captain of the galliot. On which,
the Indians of the neareft rancheria and others,
who were coming to the attack, were feized
with a terrible pannick : for our men thinking
it was the long-boat that was lofl, called out
by means of fome Indian friend, who was
among them, that they were Spaniards coming
to their afliilance. In the morning, they faw
a veflel near the neighbouring ifland del Carmen,
but inftead of flanding in for the fhore, made
for the ifland of Coronados : on which, a fea-
man v/as fent off on a bargiila or fmall raft,
who brouglu a note from don Juan, the cap-
tain of the galliot, the contents of which was,
that having been on the other coaft, fix leagues
to leeward of Hiaqui, the bad weather had obli-
ged him to come over to the coaft of California,
to get to v»rindwardj for continuing his voyage.
The
2J4 H I S T O R Y O F
The fhip, which checked the Indians, being
out of fight, they reafiumed their former bloody
purpofes, inviting, as to a banquet of flaughter
and plunder, mofl of the branches of their na-
tion, that called the Lauretana, Liyues, Mon-
quis, Didyus, Laymones, and fome of the
fouthern Edues. Their infolences occafioned
the Spaniards to come to fome flvirmiflies with
them, in which they did them as little damage
as pofTible, but at the fame time took care to
make them feel how dangerous any formal
attempt againft them, would prove. Father
Salva-Tierra calmly endeavoured to prevent
any farther caufe of complaint, not forgetting
the necelTary precautions againft any difagree-
able event. But in this uncertain ftate of dilE-
<Jence, a fmall incident occafioned a declared
rupture. One night in November, the Laymo-
nes, taking the advantage ol the darknefs, came
,to the camp, loofened the only horfe which fa-
ther Salva-Tierra had been able to bring with
him, and carried it off to eat. The creature
being miffing in the morning, Eftevan Ro-
drigues and Juan Caravana, boldly offered to
trad it, till they difcovered the enemy. It
feemed rafhnefs, as indeed it was, for two
men to go alone in an unknown country, and
alfo that of an enemy, in order to punifh them.
On the Gtlier hr^nd., befides the neceility, if pof-
fible.
CALIFORNIA. 235
fible, of recovering the horfe, it was a prudent
meafure, the Indians, as I have before obferved,
always grow difpirited, when they find they
arc oppofed by a courageous enemy : and where
they perceive any figns of fear, they little
doubt of the victory. Some Indians, who were
friends, had come to the camp, and admiring
this brave refolution of the two men, and fired
with indignation at the injury done by their
countrymen, offered to accompany them. Ac-
cordingly, they all marched up the country,
and arriving at the fummit of a mountain two
leagues diftant, they perceived on the flcirts of
it, the gang of robbers fkining the horfe : but
&t the fight of the Spaniards and their party, they
betook themfelves to flight, and left it whole.
The foldiers having diflributed the horfe among
their Indian friends, who received it as the
greateft dainty, they all returned to the camp.
After this, the whole thoughts of the male-
contents were turned, on making difpofitions
for aiTaulting us at a proper opportunity, though
fuch was the flupidity of the greateft part of
them, that they continued coming to the camp
under pretence of being catechifed, to eat the
pozoli, trufting in the father's patience, who in
vain increafed his diligence and kindnefs to
them. The fatigue pf being obliged to keep
continual watch, became intolerable to fuch a
handful
236 HISTORY OF
handful of men. In the day they were expofed
to the parching heat of the fun, and in the
night to the rahis, which were heavy, no fhelt-
er againft them having been provided in New
Spain, from a belief founded on the continual
drought during Otondo's entrance, that it never
rained in CaHfornia.
At length the infolence and hatred of the In-
dians increafing every day, and their wicked
defigns being evident, from feveral accidents
of lei's importance, on the 13th of November,
being the feflival of faint Staniflaus Kofca, the
Indians of the four nations or branches met, in
order to ftrike the decifive blow.
That they might fall upon our people at a
difadvantage, fome of them came to the camp
about noon whilft they were eating ; the centinel
was for keeping them off, but to no purpofe,
and one of the boldeft clofcd v/ith him, and
took away the llafF, which ferved him for a
halbert. On the centinel's calling out, Torto-
lero run up, and wrefted the ftaff from the
Indian ; an ad of boldnefs, which (Iruck the
company fo, that they retreated j but foon
after, our men were alarmed with the outcries
of the Indian Alonfo de Tepahui, who kept
the few hogs and flieep, in a valley overgrown
with rulhes and flags, and who v/as affaulted
by another party ; however by immediate af-
fiftance,
1
CALIFORNIA. 237
fiftance, the creatures were brought fafe within
the camp. This attempt was fucceeded by a
ihower of ftones and arrows from five hundred
Indians, who came up divided into four com-
panies, that they might attack the camp on each
fide. One only of the friendly Californians re-
mained within the camp, where the little garri-
fon, confifting only of ten men, was obliged to
divide itfelf on all the four fides. Tortolero,
who afted as captain, chofe the moft dangerous
poll, which faced the lower part of the valley,
together with Bartholomew de Robles ; the
oppofite fide was defended by the Indian Alonfo
de Tepahui, and Juan the mulatto of Peru ;
on that fide which looked toward the fhore,
flood the Indian Marcos Guazavas, a man of
great boldnefs and adlivity. On the remaining
fide was Eftevan Rodrigues a Portuguefe»
Juan Caravana, the Maltefe, who had ferved
in the Philippine fliip, had the care of the pa-
derero, which was placed at the gate of the
camp i and not far from him was polled Ni-
cholas Marques a Sicilian, who likewife had
fome knowledge of gunnery, that he might he
nearer at hand to aflTift him. The father and
Sebaftian his Indian, remained in the center,
in order to go where there Ihould be moil oc-
cafion. And now the companies of the foui
nations, began to advance with dreadful fiiout-
ings
2^8 H I S T O R Y O F
ings and butcries, toward the four fides ; but
they were repulfed by the extraordinary vigour
of our men, and with little lofs to the afTailants.
Father Salva-Tierra having defired that they
might not be fired upon fo as to be killed, till
matters came to the lafl extremity, they fe-
veral times in a confufed manner, renewed the
aflion for two hours, without gaining any ad-
vantage, throwing Hones and earth againil the
two fides of the trench j but unexpededly the
whole body retreated and the aftion ceafed. Our
people imagined that the enemy had repented
of their injurious treatment, or gave over all
hopes of gaining any advantage j but half an
hour had not pafled, when they returned to the
afiault with greater fury, and every company
reinforced with frefh men. Now it was that
our men, though they had performed prodigies
of valour, found themfelves fo clofely preffed,-
that the captain ordered Caravana to difcharge
the paderero, but this which was the chief hope
for terrifying, by deftroying the Indians, buril
to pieces and fiew about the camp, though
providentially with no other damage, than
knocking down the Maltefe, fo that for fome
time he remained fenfelefs ; and likewife
without doing any execution among the In-
dians. This misfortune infpired the Indians-
with frefh courage, and the company
againft
4
CALIFORNIA. 239
againfl which it had been leveled fent notice
to the others, that fince the paderero did not
kill, they might be fure that the little pieces
would not. This they were perfuaded of, as
our people, by order of the father, fired in the
air. The attack clofed fo on every fide, that the
captain thought it high time to give orders for
firing on the enemy ; yet this was, what even
at fuch an extremity father Salva-Tierra could
not bear, that running towards the mod for-
ward entreating, urging, threatening them that
they would retire, and not rufh on certain
death. He was anfwered by three arrows flioc
at him, but which miffed him. On this he
withdrew, and the Indians on every fide began
to drop : though the dead and wounded
amounted to no great number, as terrified with
the effe<5ls of the firing, tliey foon betook them-
fclves precipitately to their rancherias.
However the prudent apprehenfions of a fe-
cond attack, would not adroit of our men to
abate of their vigilance. But they foon perceived
fome meffengers of peace approaching: the firft
was the Indian cafique, who was permitted to
come within the camp, and who with tears af-
fured our men, that itwas thofeof the neighbour-
ing rancheria under him, who had firft formed
the plot, and on account of the paucity of
their numbers, had fpirited up the other na-
tions i
240 HISTORYbP
tons ; adding, that thofe being irritated by the
death of their companions, were for revenging
them : but that both the one and the other^
fincerely repented of their attempt. A little
while after came the women with their chil-
dren, mediating a peace as is the cuftom of the
country. They fat down weeping at the gate
of the camp with a thoufand promifes of
amendment, and offering to give up their
children as hoftages for the performance. Fa-
ther Salva-Tierra heard them with his ufual
mildnefs^ jQiewing them the wickednefs of the
procedure ; and if their hufbands would behave
better, promifed them peace, an amnefly, and
a forgetful nefs of all that was paft : he alfo
diftributed among them feveral little pre-
fents, and to remove any miftruft they might
have, he took one of the children in hoftage,
and thus they returned in high fpirits to the
rancheiias. At night folemn thanks were re-
turned to God, his moft holy mother and
St. Sta'nidaus, for his manifold favours. In-
deed without a fignal alTiftance of the God
of armies, it feems impofTible, that ten men
got together from feveral parts, cculd have
withftood the furious afiaults of 500 favages.
It was alfo obferved, that moft of the arrows
ftuck in the pedeftal of the crofs, whllftboth it
and the tent, which ferved for the chapel, were
untouched.
CALIFORNIA. 241
untouched. When enquiry was made about
the wounds received, it appeared, that of the
ten amidft fuch fhowers of arrows only two had
received any wounds : thefe were Tortolero and
Figueroa ; but their wounds were fo flight as
not to hinder their fighting : and they concealed
them from the Indians, waiting till it was night
before they made their cafe known to their
companions. If there was here caufe for pity,
was there not likewife much greater for wonder.
They adored the holy crofs as the ftandard of
faith ; they fung ave to our lady as their cap-
tain, and unanimoufly determined to remain in
that country -, though as they apprehended the
long-boat fhould be loll, and the galliot never
return.
All the garrifon that night refted, except the
father Juan Maria : and in the morning as he
was preparing to fay a thankfgiving mafs to
Nueftra Sennora de Loretto, the centinel cried out
a fail, a fail. This drew out all the company,
and in a little time they perceived it to be the
long-boat with provifions coming into the bay,
and firing feveral guns ; and the general joy
was increafed by the accounts on both fides.
As to themfelves the long boat's people faid,
that after lofing fight of the galliot in the firft
voyage, they had for fome time beat up and
down to no purpofe in quell of her, till it was
Vol. I. R thought
242 H I S T O R Y O F
thought advifeable to return to the river Hia-*
qui. Concerning the galliot, they faid Die would
foon be there with the remainder of the people
and provifions -, for having run a-ground on
the coaft of Hiaqui, father Diego Marquina,
had on his knees entreated the Indians to afllft
in getting her off; which being done, fhewent
into the harbour to repair and take in her cargo.
Father Sal va-Tierra, elevated by the vi(5lory, and
this frefli fupply, began to fettle every thing;
he reaffumed his exercife of catechifing, maiz
was now again boiled for the neighbouring
Indians, and the garrifon's former friends, who
one after another came to the camp with poor
excufes ; after a fliort reprooi, in order to
leave no fufpicion on them, they were all ufed
very kindly, had the fame prefents given them,
and were treated with the moft open affedlion.
The confpirators of the neighbouring ranche-
ria of don Dionyfio, were foon obliged to come
and humble themfelves at the camp ; for the
Monquis regreting the death of their compa-
nions in the adlion, had determined to fall on
them as the firtl: authors of their difafter ; that
now their only recourfe was to come to the
Spaniards, bringing all their arms to the camp,
as a fign of friendfhip and fubmiflion. They
aflced leave that they might fettle near it : and
they were permitted to make a fecond trench
for
CALIFORNIA. 243
for defendin.? themfelves. In this neiohbour-
hood of the camp, the Monquis did not dare to
attack them, and father Juan Maria reconciled
the two nations ; and they both continued com-
ing to the camp very quietly.
The father availed himfelf of this tranquil-
lity, to confecrate to God the firft fruits of
California ; the firft and moft folemn was that
of the fick cafique before mentioned, and two
days before the aflfault. He was of the territory
of San Bruno ; and at the time of admiral
Otondo's expedition, had learned the elements
of the faith, and defired baptifm : his defeafe
was a dreadful cancer, the progrefs of which,
God in mercy checked, till the arrival of the
venerable father. The cafique delayed not a
moment to come to him from San Bruno : and
on his arrival at the cam,p, he called out, as
well as he could. Senior Almirante,. He
was immediately admitted and kindly enter-
tertained : he prayed by name for the fathers
who had been in the country before, and like-
wife for feme foldiers. He gave the greateft figns
of candor and fidelity, and exprefled an ex-
treme defire of being baptized. As from his
former knowledge he foon went through his
previous inftruction ; and the danger of the can-
cer increafing, he was baptifed on the i ith of
November. Now he no iefs earneftly requefted,
K 2 that
244 H I S T O R Y O F
that baptifm fhould be conferred on his two
fons -, one of four years of age, and the other
eight. The firft was immediately received;
and the fecond, after being duly inflrudted in
the articles of chriftianity, was baptized the
14th day after the viflory. The cafiq Lie's for-
mer name was Ibo, which in his language fig-
nifies the fun ; but he was chriftened by that of
Manuel Bernardo, and the fon was called Ber-
nado Manuel, in compliance with the devout
defire of their excellencies the vice-roys ; that
thofe two names fliould be given to the firfl:
chriftians of California. Ibo himfelf died in
the fame month of 06lober with great figns of
tranquility, praifing and adoring the un-
fearchable difpenfationsof God. Likewife two
other children were baptized under the name of
Juan and Pedro, in memory of don Juan Ca-
valero y Ozio, and don Pedro Gil de la Sierpe,
as diftinguifhing benefa6lors t;o the mifTion.
The 5th baptifm was that of an Indian wounded
in the adlion, whom the foldiers by a very fin-
gular accident, or rather by the difpofition of
the moft high, found alone in a hut. Being
inftrufted with the difpatch which his danger
required, he with great anxiety defired to
be baptized : and, as if that had been all he
wanted, he that fame night refigned up his foul,
to
CALIFORNIA. 245
to the inexprefiible edification and comfort of
all belonging to the camp.
Matters without being thus compofed, the
venerable father gave orders concerning the
garrifon. Having aflembled the foldiers, like-
wife the people of the long boat, he read to
them the vice-roy's inftrufbions ; and informed
them both of their immunities and privileges,
and likewife their feveral duties and obligations.
He nominated don Luis de Torres Tortolero,
captain, and other inferior officers, and regu-
lated the diftribution of devotional exercifes and
works ; and laftly gave notice, that on the fol-
lowing Saturday, they fbould all meet to hear
an examp^e, and an exhortation to devotion,
in imitation of the virtues of the moft holy
Mary, as likewife on all future fabbaths, ac-
cording to the excellent ufage introduced into
feveral parts of New Spain, by the reverend
focicty. This devout homage was fo accepta-
ble to the holy mother, that on the faid fabbath-
day, the 23d of November, fhe was pleafed to
folace them in the manner related by the fame
father at the end of the narrative of the enr
trance. " A great addition, fays he, to our
comfort, was that on laft Saturday, when the
examples in honour of the moft holy Mary,
and her holy houfe of Loretto, began to be
fettled in this country, Iince the performance of
R 3 ^J?«
24^ HISTORY OF
the firft example, we faw appear at the mouth
of the fea, betwixt the ifland of Coronandes and
the point of this bay, the galliot which with a
fair wind, after two days failing, drop'd an-
chor on the fame fabbath near our camp.
Our joy at this fight was the greater, when we
came to know that it brought father Francifco
Maria Piccolo, a veteran mifTionary, who after
having been vifitor, and founded churches for
mlfiions among the Tarahumares, who re-
mained faithful, with pleafure refigned that
office to enter on another converfion no lefs
fignal among thefe our poor Californian fa-
vages. I cannot exprefs the comfort his com-
ing gave me, not fo much for my own perfon,
as the concerns of the Spaniards and Indians :
as now the advancement of this converfion,
has an appearance of certainty -, and that hence-
forth the ftandard of Chriit will not be removed
from thefe countries -, and that the great fettler
Mary, will lay the foundations of her holy
houfe among her eieft."
It was now time to fend fome aceonnt of
California to New Spain, which was impatient
to hear of the progrefs of this conqueft. Like-
wife the galliot being only lent, juftice required
her to be immediately returned to her owner.
Accordingly father Salva-Tierra ordered the
captain to prepare for returning to Acapulco,
and
CALIFORNIA. 247
and in the mean time he wrote to the princi-
pal benefadors of the mifTion. His letters
breathed fach an apoftolick fpirit ; fuch mild^
nefs, love, humility and gratitude, that four
of them were then printed, which were it not
for the apprehenfion of being tedious by repe-
tition, we would very willingly have here in-
ferted, one to the viceroy, and the other to his
lady donna Maria Andrea Guzman y Manri-
que, a diftinguifhed protedTefs of the enter-
prize ; a Ihort letter to don Juan de Cavalero
y Ozio ; and another containing a very circum-
ftantial narrative, to father Ugarte. In the let-
ter to the viceroy, this excellent man fliews,
that he is not unmindful of making what returns
he can for any benefits received, in thanks, in
praifes and recommendations to the divine fa-
vour of the benefadtors, the commanders, the
foldiers, and of all others to whom he was in
any meafure indebted. He likewife requelted
that an account of the whole fliould be remitted
to the moft reverend father Tyrfo Gonzales,
general of the order, his majefty Charles II.
and his fupreme council of the Indies : that his
majefty might by his orders and proteftion,
promote the fpiritual conqueft. But the diffi-
culties which occurred in this affair and its iffue,
Ihall be afterwards related.
R 4 SECT.
248 H I S T O R Y O F
SECT. III.
Tranfadlons of the two firrt: years, with
the attempts to enter the inward part
of California, till the fettlement
of the fecond miffion of St Xavier.
There being nothing further to be appre-
hended from the Indians, the feyeral members
of the little garrifon, encouraged by the two
fathers, applied themfelves to erefl fome little
works of defence and buildings within the
camp ', the trench was enlarged unci fortified
with q p.illifade, and thorny branches of trees ;
a chapf-1 for placing our lady in, was alfo built
of iton • rnd day, with a thatch'd roof- befides
three little dwellings j one for the fathers, ano-
ther for the captain, and the third ferved as
a magazine. Near thefe alfo were, built bar-
racks for the foldiers. ChriUmas day was ap-
pointed for the dedication of the chapel, which
was performed with fix mafies and great re-
joicings. Soon after, the long-boat was fent
away to Cinaloa, with letters for the mifiionary
jefuits of that province, to fend in two returns
what provifions they could, and five foldiers to
affill in the works ; whilil the fathers were
taken up in learning the language, and promo-
ting the jnlfruction ajid reduction of the In-
dians,
CALIFORNIA. 249
dlans. Within a few months the importance
of this reinforcement was feen in a kind of bat-
tle in a plain field ; our men being no longer
pent up in the camp : the occafion of it was as
follows. The Indians by attending daily at the
explication of the catechifm became at length
perfuaded, that the end of this entrance of the
Spaniards, was not to fi(h or procure pparls, as
they did neither ; but to plant in California a
new religion, the myfteries of which they were
learning j but this wp the very thing which
alarmed the forcerers or. primitive doftors of
their nation, who flill retained their authority
over thcle favages j and when afterwards they
perceived their power, and confequently their
wretched profits to decline, they one and all
with an infernal rage openly declared againft
the new doctrine and the ftrangers. What had
been heard of in the camp was talked of in
companies, and at the rancherias. that by de-
grees fome inclining to the fathers, and others
by the feduclions of their mailers being tena-
cious of their ancient cuftoms, there arofe
among them two religious fadlions. The for-
cerers omitted nothing to inflame the rancour of
their party ; and as father Salva-Tierra had not
been able to bring with him the chriftian In-
dians, whom admiral Otondo had carried
frorq California, the forcerers made a han-
dle
250 HISfTORYOF
die of it for diflfeminating all over the country,
that the Spaniards came only to take them
away and carry them to their country : and
this apparent breach of faith occafioned vehe-
ment complaints. The difquietude was with
great induftry fomented, but clandeftinely, till
in April, 1698, they broke out into open hof-
tilities, by an infuit which our people little ex-
pe<5led.
A boat left by the galliot had come up the
bay near the long-boat. The malecontents
formed a defign of ftealing it, either for their
filhery, or only by way of beginning the war.
For this they took the opportunity of the time
when our people were at dinner, as it was im-
pofTible for two men left in the long-boat to hin-
der them : one of them, however, haftened to
the camp with advice of what had been done.
On this captain Tortolero with 12 others well
armed, marched down, and keeping along the
coaft, they faw at a diftance the Indians in two
bodies J one in the boat, and a greater number
en the fhorc. Of the latter, fome advanced to
flop him by fl<.irmiihes, and tlie others having
got the boat alhore, broke it to pieces with huge
ftones, and then fled into the woods. When
our men came up, the damage was found be-
yond repair : and as the perpetrators of this in-
fuit wei"e not to be found, they refolved to go
CALIFORNIA. 251
in queft of them all along the fliore. They
divided themfelves into two companies, who
were to meet at a point of land which runs into
the fea. In this fearch, Figueroa with three
foldiers and a faithful Californian, following a
path, fell into an ambufli of above 50 Indians,
who immediately difcharged ftones and arrows ;
our men brilkly fired, and turning alfo feveral
evolutions that they might not behem'd in, the
Californian haflened away to the captain, v/ho
by the noife of the fea, and the wind which was
very high, could not hear the mufkets. The
four military men bravely flood their ground
againft fuch a vaft fuperiority of the enemy,
which was continually encreafing. The in-
trepid Figueroa had his lip cut by a ftone, and
another foldier was wounded by an arrow.
Through the dread of the mufkets, but chiefly
through the goodnefs of God, and the patron-
nefs of the milTion of our lady of Loretto, the
Indians were difcouraged from their attempt of
taking them alive. The ammunition of our
men began to fail them, jufl as the captain and
the other fivefoldiers came up; thej;iumberof the
Indians had increafed to above a hundred, all
fighting with the utmoft defpair. At length
after feveral attacks, when our people were in
the extremity of danger, night coming on, the
Jndians founded a retreat by their whiftles,
leaving,
252 H I S T O R Y O F
leaving, as they afterwards owned fome flaia
and more wounded. This vidory, which all
attributed to our lady's patronage, for which a
folemn thankfgiving was appointed, contributed
greatly to humble the faflious, who gradually
began to return again to the camp, mingling
themfelves among the friendly Indians. The
captain was for making an example of fome,
but the fathers interpofed i and the infur-
gents giving ^ proof of their repentance and
humiliation, by bringing to the camp the pie-
ces of the boat, a general pardon was pub-
lilhed.
The holy week was celebrated with profound
tranquillity, and to the inexpreffible amazement
and delight of the Indians : and a little after,
the long-boat was fenc to Rio Hiaquifora fup-
ply, v/hich it might bring, whilftthatof cloaths,
furniture, and eatables, which had been applied
for at Mexico was coming, as it was expected
fome day in April. The long-boat departed,
and the fathers with frefli zeal applied them-
felves to the inftruflion of the Californians, and
likewife to learn thejr language : for the greater
conveniency of doing this, and as a fecurity
againfb the ficklenefs of the Indians, father
Piccolo took upon him to inftrudl the boys and
girls, whom he caufed to come within the en-
trenchment, whiltl, without it, father Salva-
Tierra
CALIFORNIA. 253
Tierra inftriic^ed the adults : and by this mild
meafure, they had their fons as fo many hof-
tages. Thus the harveft of the gofpel went on
ripening, with the knowledge, patience, and
labour, which particularly manifefted itfelf ;
when by degrees the Indians abfented them-
fclves, during the month of June, the gather-
ing of the pitahayas then beginning, and this
is alfo the time of their greateft merriment.
" We were all extremely concerned at this
retreat, fays father Sal va- Tierra, the harveft
now beginning to ripen, after feven months
and more of continued initrudion, that to fee
and hear them afforded exceeding pleafure.
Such boys and girls as were catechumens, and
had been inftru6led in the prayer of the holy
crofs, and other parts of devotion, drew tears
from me and others : particularly a boy called
Juanico Cavalero, not yet quite four years of
age, who with his little fhell on his head and
his wand in his hand, conduded the quefcions,
putting his little finger to his mouth when any
one talked, or did not mind, or any two were,
fighting, which extremely moved us. Some-
times he would take the rofaries, and the reli-
quaries of the foldiers, then fall on his knees
and devoutly kifs them, and put them to his
little eyes, and bid all the Spaniards do the
like; fo that if any one did not take notice of
him,
254 HISTORYOF
him, It vexed him to fuch a degree, that he
was not to be quieted till he fell on his knees,
and kifTed either a crucifix or reliquary, whilfl
all blefTed the devout importunity of the child.
God rewarded the labour of the fathers with
the joy of baptifing fome adults and children
in cafes of neceflity, where in fpite of the rage
of the evil fpirit, by means of the forcerers,
many remarkable and rare inftances were feen
of the divine mercy : but all the intreaties of
fome adults, could not prevail upon the fathers
to confer baptifm upon them, from an ap-
prehenfion and of their ficklenefs, that they
fliouid be obliged to forfake the miffion.
Bcfides the concern at the abfence of the In-
dians, the camp began to feel one more inte-
refting, the fear of perifhing for want of necef-
faries. It was nov/ above two months fince the
long-boat had been gone, that all gave it over for
loft, efpecially as the weather had lately been
very tempeftuous. There was little account of
the fuccours applied for at Mexico ; and fuch
was their neceflity, that in the middle of June,
all the ftore was reduced to three facksofmeal,
ill-ground, and three others of maize, which
was full of maggots while it was aboard the
veffel.
The con fternation was fo general and great, that
even father Salva-Tierra begins the narrative,
which
CALIFORNIA. 255
which was to accompany the letter already men*
tioned, in thefe words, " I write this narrative,
uncertain whether I (hall live to make an end
of it, for at my prefent writing, our neceflity for
want of fupplies is very general : and as they
will every day grow upon us, and I am the
moll advanced in years of all in the camp of
our lady of Loretto, I fliall naturally pay the
firft tribute." But the moft admirable circum-
ftance is, that among fo many labours and
dangers, the fathers were able to keep the peo-
ple of the camp in order, being compofed of
fo many different nations, and moft of them
before, fo licentious in their lives. Whereas,
now though they were twenty-two in number,
not a quarrel nor an oath, nor any ill word was
heard among them. So far from it, that they
never failed to attend the devotional exercifes,
and encouraged each other chearfully to die in
that diftrefsj and very devoutly afTifted at a de-
votion for nine days, which the fathers appoint-
ed for imploring the afllftance of the patronefs
of the miffion. Having heard a fermon
againft fwearing, that vice fo common among
foldiers and feamen, the two claffes of which
the camp confifted, that in a certain city of
Germany, he who fwears is made to pay a fine,
they unanimously agreed to lay a like penalty
to be dedu(5ted from their pay, and at a pro-
Der
456 HISTORYOF
per opportunity to be fpent in an entertainment;
Some of the foldiers were treafurers, and on any
one's fwearing, the others encompafied him like
bees, demanding the fine. This in time put
an end to all fwcahng and imprecations, and
would to God the like pracflice obtained in all
garrifons.
The nine days devotion were now drawing
near to a concluficn, and they now alfo faw the
end of their provifions •, when on the 21ft of
June, being the feftival of San Luis Gonzaga,
a large new bark, called the San Jofeph, came
from Chacala, under the command of an inha-
bitant of Compoftella, by whom father Ugarte
fent all the fuccours he was able ; and feven
foldiers volunteers, who went to ferve in the
garrifon. They v/ere received with inexprefllble
joy, and folemn thanks returned to God, the
patronefs of Loretto, and her beloved fon San
Luis. And as the long-boat was fuppofed to be
loft, father Salva-Tierra was for treating with
the owner about the boat. The latter was very
defirous of it, having by experience of this voy-
age, been acquainted with its ill qualities. He
alfo acted very fraudulently in the contracft,
which at laft was concluded for twelve thoufand
dollars, to be paid in Mexico by father Ugarte,
father Juan Maria having no money by him.
It was not long before the abominable deceit of
the
CALIFORNIA. 257
the owner was found out, that fix thoufand
dollars more were expended in fitting it for the
fea : befides the Jofs of a whole cargo, the firft
voyage, and on a fecond having been ftranded
at Acapuico, was fold for five hundred dollars,
after coding eighteen thoufand, a very confi-
derable lofs to the mifllon. The want of a vef-
fel was fupplied by the treafurer don Pedro Gil
de la Sierpe, who very opportunately fent to
father Juan IMaria, a bark called San Fermin,
and likewife a long-boat, called San Xavier, of
which immediate ufe was made, to fetch wood
and fruits from Chacala and Metanchel,
and provifions from Yaqui, Ahome, Guaymas,
and other ports ; alfo fome mares, horfes, and
cattle, fent by don Auguftin Eucinas, an illuf-
trious benefaftor to the million, from its com-
mencement, and whofe pious liberality has
dcfcended to his fon don Miguel.
The fathers being now pretty well ac-
quainted with the language of California, and
liaving horfes for the more convenient fur-
Vey of a country fo rugged and poor, came to
arefolutionofperformingirby fcveralways. In the
beginning of the year 1699, father Juan Maria,
accompanied by fome foldiers, firft went north-
ward toward a place called Londo, nine leagues
difiant iVom Loie.tto, and wherethere was a nume-
lows ianche)ia. The venerable father feveral
YuL, I, S t^imes
258 HISTORY OF
times fent the Indians notice of his intended
vifit, but their fears were not to be removed.
At his approaching the place, they all imme-
diately made off", and though he and his atten-
dants called to them, and flaid two days in
expedtation of them, he liad the mortification
to return without feeing them. When they
came to the camp, he complained to them of
fuch a behaviour, allayed their fears, and in
fpring going again to vifit them, he called the
place San Juan Baptifta, inftrufled them in the
myfteries of the faith, talked kindly to them,
diftributed little prefents among them, and took
a view of the ground, and alfo of the water
near it, in order for fowing.
Among others who came down to the camp,
were fome Indians of a part called Vigge Bi-
aundo, lying fouth of Loretto, behind fome
rugged mountains, and which was faid to be
very fit for pafture and tillage. Thefe fhewed
themfelves fo tradable and friendly, and parti-
cularly fo defirous of converfion, that a youth
among them of a remarkable vivacity, genius,
and goodnefs of temper, was admitted to bap-
tifm, by the name of Francifco Xavier, though
this privilege was denied to adults. Hither fa-
ther Piccolo went on the loth of May, and
after fuffcring a great deal in a journey without
any road, and the foldiers fearing to venture
any
1
CALIFORNIA. 259
any farther, he determined to go alone among the
civilized Indians ; and having got over the
precipices on foot, he came to a breach where
was the ranchcria, and was received with
the mod cordial demonllrations of love. He
remained among them four days inftruding
them, and with great pleafure heard that the
new chriftian Francifco Xavier, conformably to
his name, ufed to do the like, and this name
was alfo given to the rancheria. Some Indians
from feveral rancherias of that chain of moun-
tains came thither ; and others from the wef-
tern parts, who gave an account of the oppofite,
or outward coall, which is wafhed by the South-
fea. The father took a view of the whole val-
ley, and found in it fome fpots fit for tillage,
whither water might be conveyed, and likewife
fruit trees planted •, bcfides good paftures for
their cattle and horfes. They returned to the
camp, ard croiTed the chain of mountains in a
more difficult part : but at the foot of them,
t!iey found their horfes fafely guarded by fome
laithful Indians ; and one day more along
a riiorter way carried them to Loretto. Eight
d;iys after, father Salva-Tierra went a fecond
time to San Juan de Londo, at the requeft of
the Indians, who informed him that feveral
rancherias of the Liyu language, and others of
S 2 the
26o HISTORYOF
the Cochimi nation would repair thither to hear
the doflrine of the gofpel.
As there was a want of beafts to carry the pro-
vifions, the chief men among the Monqui Indians
llrove who fiiould be moft forward in offering to
carry the facks, not more in order to come in for a
Ihare in the contents, than to avail themfelves
of this occafion, for procuring a reconcihation
with the Cochimes, who were very much in-
cenfed againft them, for the death of a youth,
who had become a chriftian by the name of An-
drew, and was very much beloved by the
fathers. He preached to them all, and having
entered into friendfhip with them, went to ano-
ther rancheria, three leagues farther, in queft
of another very faithful Indian called Nicholas,
and at that time fick. The greateft part of this
rancheria alfo fled ; to thofe who remained, the
father's behaviour was very courteous and win-
ning. But at his return to Londo, he found
the minds of the Indians rankled, both on ac-
count of the fermon, and the revival of the
hatred againft the Monquis, during his ab-
fence. Matters came to the point of an open
rupture, and the father's mule was wounded
with an arrow, whiift he was baptizing and ad-
miniftring the chrifm to eight children : and
the Monquis ftole part of the baggage. At
length by the fa timer's endeavours, both parties
were
CALIFORNIA. 261
were quieted ; and they all returned to Loretto,
chearfully afllfting to level fome afperities in the
way, which other wife would have been imprac-^
ticable to the beafts.
The country of Vigge was juftly an objeft of
greater attention, as much more fit and con-
venient for founding a fecond miflion, and there-
fore greatly defired, the only difficulty being the
ruggednefs and fteepnefs of the way : fo as to
be extremely difficult to men on foot, but quite
unpafTable to beafts. Hov/ever the foldicrs
animated by father Piccolo, and affifted by the
Indians, by dint of very hard labour, opened a
way of a fufficient breadth, betv/ixt the preci-
pices of the mountain, that on the 12th of June
it began to be frequented. He pafled along ic
on horfe-back to the country of San Francifco
Xavier. Near this fpot was a very high hill,
which the captain, with two other foldiers de-
termined to go up, in order to take a view of
the country, which provdW a work of great
difficulty, on account of the cragginefs and
many brambles intermixed with the precipices :
but when they reached the fummit, they were
very far from repentingoftheirlabour, as on both
fides it not only afforded them a large view of
the country, but likewife of the two feas, that of
California and the South fea ; that in their firft
extacies, they fired their pieces for joy. The
S 3 reports
i6i H I S T O R Y O F
reports alarmed their companions, who fearing
fome ambufli, were haflening to afilil them.
But being informed at a diftance of the caufe,
they ran with the news to father Piccolo, who
after he had renewed his inftruClicns to the In-
dians, and aiTured them of his conftant afFe6lion,
returned with the whole company to Loretto,
by the fame way.
At this time don Luis de Torres Tortolcro,
captain of the garrifon, labouring under a con-
tinual defluxion in his eyes, conrradtcd by h.is
fatigues in the new conqueft, laid down his em-
ployment, to the great concern of the venerable
father Juan Maria; for to his courage, prudence,
and religion, the eftablifliment of the miffions
was not a little owing. The father nominated
as his fuccelTor, don Antonio Garcia de Men-
doza, an old foldier of Fuenterabia: and be-
fides certificates of the higheft praifes, he gave
to don Luis, letters of recommendation to the
audience of Guadalaxara, that they would be
pleafed to beflowfome comfortable government
on fo deferving a perfon r a cuilom which the
grateful father never failed in towards thofe who
behaved VvtII. The reft of the fummcr of 1 6<^<^^
befides other journeys of lefs notice, the fathers
fpent in their ufual apollolick fundions, in pre-
paring a new and large chapel in the camp of
Loretto, for our lady, and likewife in laying
the
1
CALIFORNIA. 26^
the foundations in a convenient place, about
one hundred paces from the garrifon for a
church, which though fmall in itfelf, was large
and fplendid for that country; andlikewife of
an apartment for the mifllonary. Thefe build-
ings and others which were carrying on for the
conveniency of the garrifon, and in which the
fathers were direflors, officers, and labourers,
advanced but flowly, on account of feme inter-
vening impediments. The chapel within the
camp, was dedicated the following year, and the
church five years after, namely, in 1704. Theblef-
fed virgin highly approved of the cordial devotion
of her fervant Salva-Tierra, who had communi-
cated the fame holy flame to every heart in the
garrifon ; and nourifhed it with the religious
fervices every Saturday. That moft bountiful
queen was pleafed to manifeft her lingular pro-
tection of this her little flock, as was moil kn--
fibly experienced in the greateft extremities with
the circumfl:ance of delivering them from their
diftrefs, on the Saturdays, which they fanc-
tified with offices of devotion to her. The
very Saturday when they had come to a refolu-
tion of buildino; the church and chapel, and
were afl"ifl:ing at the offices of the rofary, the
litanies, the fermon, and example ; the Indians
fuddenly cried out puha, puha, which in their
language fignifics a fhip or vefl^el i and it pro-
S 4 ved
254 H I S T O R Y G F
ved to be a galliot from don Pedro Gil y de la
Sicrpe, which feafonably brought a very
large quantity of provifions, fent by him and
the pre fide nt of Guadalaxara. It alfo caufed a
great fatisfaflion to find that all the bills which
had been drawn by the foldiers, had been an-
fwered at Mexico, father Ugarte having tranf-
mitted the particulars, in an account drawn up
by himfelf.
With this reinforcement, father Piccolo
thought it proper no longer to delay fettling a
new mifiion at San Xavier de Viaundo, leaving
father Salva-Tierra at Loretto, and he himfelf
going to live with the Indians, in the center of
the Vigge mountains, Accordingly, in the be-
ginning of 06lober, he removed thither attend-
ed by fome foldiers, with the help of whom,
and his new fons, the Indian mountaineers, he
built fome fmall houfes, or cottages of andoves
or raw bricks, as dwellings for himfelf and his
companions, and likewife a chapel of the fame
materials. Whilft thefe v/ere drying, he and
father Mendoza with fome foldiers, and guided
by the Indians, fei out to view the oppofite
coaft of the South fea, which admiral Otondo
fo filmed for his naval atchievements, had in
vain attempted. At the diftance of four leagues
South Weft, they came to a large rancheria of
tradable Indians, which father Pi.ccolo cojife-
crated
CALIFORNIA. 265
crated to his countrywoman Rofalia. After
this, they followed a little flream, which brought
them down to the fea ; here along the (here,
they faw great numbers of thofe azure fhells fo
very famous, but without finding, though
they went a great way along the coaft, any
place proper for a fettlement ; nor bay, creek, or
harbour, for receiving the galleon from the
Philippine Iflands, as was fo extremely defired
by the merchants and government. In their
return they renewed their frienddiip with the
Indians of San Rofalia, inviting them to come
to San Xavier, whence word was fent to father
Salva-Tierra, that he would be pleafed to come
and confecrate the chapel on All-faints day, when
the want of folemnity and magnificence, was
made up by devotion and joy.
SECT. IV.
The difficulties which happened at the
commencement of the prefent century,
and the unfortunate management of the
aflfairs of the milTion in Mexico.
Amidfl this mixture of good and bad
fortune, commenced the prefent century 1700;
but this broughfwith it fuch ftorms of calamities
p the mifllon in California, which now began
to
266 HISTORYOF
lo put on a promifing appearance as muft have
totally deftroyed and extinguifhed it, had it not
been founded upon the lofty mountains of the
virgin, and under her particular countenance and
prote<5lion. The number of fettlers already in
California, Spaniards, Meftizos, and New-
Spain Indians, amounted to no lefs than fix
hundred perfons. But on account of this very
increafe, as no fubfiftence had hitherto been
obtained from the country, very large fupplies
of provifions were rendered of abfolute necefllty,
The fhipping of the mifTion at this time, con-
fifled of two vefiels, called the San Jofeph and
San Fcrmin, and the San Xavier long-boat.
The Spaniards hitherto had behaved quietly
2nd contentedly, in their fubordination to the
fathers -, and might reafonably expedt proper
favours from the government of Mexico, and
large fuccours from good chriftians, for the fup-
port and enlargement of a conqueft, which had
been fo pafTionately defired, and fo frequently
attempted at an immenfe charge. But God to
try the conftancy of his faithful miniflers, per-
mitted things to take a gloomy turn. The San
Jofeph, as we have before noticed, became a
dead weight on the miffion, involving it in ex-
pences for ufelefs repairs, till the utter lofs of
it. The San Fermin by the carelelTnefs of the
pilots, ran aground near the harbour of Ahome,
axid
I
CALIFORNIA. 267
and for want of afTiftance through the bafenefs
of the feamen and officers, hoping greater pro-
fits from the building a new veflel, the violence
of the waves beat it to pieces in the beginning
of the year. Thus the San Xavier's Jong-boat
only remained: and that fo battered and weak-
ened by bad weather that it was with great
hazard that father Salva-Tierra, having left
the care of the garrifon to father Piccolo,
reached Cinaloa in it, where he heard of the
lofs of the San Fermin. At Cinaloa he ufed
all poffible diligence towards a fpeedy remedy:
but meeting here with fome difficulties, he re-
folved as his laft refource to apply himfelf to
the viceroy.
Father Juan Maria, had from the very be-
ginning, fent an account of the proceedings to
his excellency. In the two firft years he had
alfo tranfmitted other letters, in which were in-
termixed mod humble requefts for his protec-
tion : and on the firft of March of this year,
he drew up in California a long memorial to the
royal council, figned by the fathers and thirty-
five others : in which he fuccindly relates all
that had happened in the conqueft and prcfent
condition of it; fets forth the wants under which
it laboured ; fpecifies the feveral expences made
in the expedition, and the impoffibility of the
jgarrifon's being fupported by cafual contribu-
tions.
268 HISTORYOF
tions, efpecially, as they were now fenfibly felt to
decline. He earneftly requefts the royal protec-
tion, that the fruit of fo many labours may not
be loft : he dcfires that the garrifon maybe paid
on the king's account, as allthe others on the fron-
tiers were •, and if this be not done, he protefts
aaainft the damages which will be the confe-
quence of his forfaking the mifllon : concluding,
that his companion Piccolo and he, were de-
termined to perfevere in it, though left alone
and expofed to certain death from the hands of
the favages. At Cinaloa he compofed another
memorial to the viceroy, fetting forth the da-
mages fuftained by the San Jofeph -, the lofs of
the San Fermin •, the weak condition of the
long-boat, though now the garrifon's only ve-
hicle J and the imminent danger, that in the
interim the fettlers would miferably perifh for
want ; and this at a time when they all had been
indulging themfelves in the pleafing hopes of
the entire fubmiflion of that large country to
the faving yoke of the faith and the dominion
of his catholick majefty. He therefore re-
quefted that he would beftow upon California a
vrfiel, which a little before had been by war-
rant, allowed to fome Peru traders at Acapulco,
The viceroy was not pleafed to give himfelf the
trouble of anfwering the father's firft letters ;
aiid though father Ugarte very much foUicited
to
CALIFORNIA. 269
to have them read in a general aflembly ; all
that he could obtain was only a verbal mention
of them. The effedl of this, was, that a thou-
fand crowns were appointed for the expences of
the mifTion : but father Ugarte declined re-
ceiving it, as utterly difproportionate to the ex-
igency, though it would at the fame time put a
ftop to all the contributions of the benefaftors.
He alfo fhewed that a few years before 30000
dollars per annum had been offered to the fo-
ciety to take the enterprize upon themfelves :
and that the greateft part of it being already ac-
complifhed, it did not become the government
fo foon to depart from thofe principles, by
which its refolutions were at that time direfted.
But thefe and other ftrenuous reprefentations
met with fuch a cold reception, that for the two
firl^ years, not the lead provifion was made for
the fupport of the miflion.
The more recent memorials concerning th^
veffel and garrifon, far from having a better
effed, were attacked by a mod atrocious ca-
lumny, that the lofs of the San Fermin was no
other than a trick of the jefuits, in order to
have a fingering of the king's money. It muft
indeed be a heart armed with the impenetrable
(hicld of faith, and inflamed with a defire of its
propagation, to bear up againft fuch a combi-
nation of difficulties. But it would net be the
caufe
270 HISTORYOF
caufe of God, did it not deferve to be main-
tained and profecuted, no lefs under difcourage-
ment and (hame, than under prolperity and
reputation. Father Salva-Tierra, more to re-
move this vile objedlion, than from any care of
himfelf, fent five letters from the treafurer of
Guadalaxara, and other perfons of diftindion,
certifying the lofs of the velTel. Thefe indeed
deflroyed the calumny 5' but did not create any
defires of fupplying the wants. The papers
were referred to the follicitor, who after long
delays, required a fight of the licences, by vir-
tue of which the fathers had firft gone over to
California, and in his report, he laboured to
prove that by them the fathers had no claim on
the revenue. This difficulty alfo was overcome
by fhewing the alteration of circumftances, and
the difference betwixt the attempt of a conqueff,
and the prefervation of what has been con-
quered : and after long debates, the cafe was
ordered to be referred to the viceroy, the refo-
Jution belonging to him only. The urgency
of the wants required all pofTible difpatch in
this; yet all that could be obtained, was an
offer to tranfmit an account of the matter to
court, and wait his majefty's refolution : and
as for the Peruvian velfel, it was ordered, that if
father Ugarte would enter into a bond to pay
the value of it, on the repeal of the grant, it
fhould
CALIFORNIA. 271
fhould be delivered up for the fervice of Cali-
fornia, bnc not otherwife. This, the father
was by no means able to do ; fo that neither
the veflel, nor even its boat were given ; nor
was it fo much as permitted, that the galliot of
don Pedro Gil de la Sierpe, now dead, fhould
be lent to carry over the fuccours which had
been procured. Certificates of their fervices
were required, in order to feek for redrefs at
court, but were denied : and thus the only re-
courfe left to the bell friends of mankind was
patience and chriftian fortitude.
The viceroy had in May 1698, and in Odober
1699, laid before his majeftyin his council of
the Indies, an account of the enterprize in
California. Thefe accounts were very accep-
table, and large fuccours were promlfed, efpe-
cially through the zealous follicitation of that
moft excellent lady the countcfs of Gal ves donna
Alvira de Toledo, who had been vice-queen at
Mexico ; and who interefted herfelf in the hap-
py ifllie of this undertaking. However by the
death of this lady, and the agitations into
which the illnefs of king Charles II. threw the
court, as with that prince it was apprehended
the monarchy itfelf would expire, and much
more by his deceale which happened on the ift
of November, 1700, no manner of provifion
was made for California.
The
272 HISTORYOF
The acceflion of Philip V. infpired new life
and vigor into the languid body of the ftate :
and though the third report, which the viceroy
had promifed to fend, had not yet reached
Madrid ; yet the deftitute condition of that
important conqueft being known by private let-
ters, the two firft reports were read in council,
and by its advice the young monarch on the
17th of July, being only the eighth month of
the firft year of his reign, difpatched three
warrants ftrongly in favour of California, and
no lefs honourable to the reverend fociety, di-
rected to don Juan de Ortega Montanes, arch-
biihopof Mexico, then newly inverted with the
viceroyfhip, to the bidiop of Guadalaxara, and
to the audience of that city. By the firft: war-
rant founded on the two reports, it was ordered
that by no means an entrance of fuch impor-
tance ftiould be negleded, but fupported by all
poffible means : and his majefty's affedionate
thanks to be returned to the miftionaries. It
likewife diredled that 6000 dollars ftiould be
every year paid out of the royal treafury for
that miftion, without delaying or omitting it on
any pretence. It likewife required that an ex-
ad account ftiould be taken of the country-, the
garrifon ; the means of forwarding the con-
queft; the communication with New Spain;
the condition of the miftions of Cinaloa, So-
nora
CALIFORNIA. 273
fiora and Nueva Bifcaya -, and the fuccours
■which thefe might furnifh towards the new mif-
fion ; and laftly it enjoyned that he fhould in-
terpofe his authority for removing to Gahfornia,
if poflible, two miflions founded for Cinaloa
and Sonora, by Alonzo Fernandez de la Torre,
lately an inhabitant of Compoitella. In the
other two his majefty diredled the bifliop and
audience to encourage and promote the enter-
prife ; to fend him an account of their proceed-
ings, and to ufe proper mcafures for the ex-
change of the milTions. Another royal war-
rant figned by her majefty Mary of Savoy, was
fent the following year to the duke de Albur-
querque, now viceroy, which I infert here,
both on account of its contents, and as a pleaf-
ing memorial of that moft amiable woman's
accomplifliments, whofe fine qualities and vir-
tues juftly caufed her to be idolized by the
whole nation. '' The king and queen regent,
to the duke 0/ Alburquerque, my coufin, lord
of my bed chamber, my viceroy, governor and
captain general of the provinces of New Spain,
and prefident of the Royal Audenci of Mexico ;
the provincial of the fociety cf jefuits, in the
province of Toledo, has reprefented to me, that
it is now above five years fince fome mifllonaries
of his order undertook the fpiritual and tempo-
ral conqueft of the Californians j and that in
Vol. I. T Auguft
274 H I S T O R Y O F
Aiiguft of the laft year 1701, they had reduced
the Indians for the fpace of 50 leagues to a fet-
tled obedience, and founded four towns, with
above 600 chriftians, moft of them young, and
no lefs than 2000 adult catechumens; and that
in the midft of this happinefs, obtained without
any expence to the royal revenue, but through
the labour of thofe religious, and the charitable
contributions of zealous perfons, till the affign-
ment pafTed laft year for this purpofe of 600
dollars to each, on the treafury of Mexico.
Some difturbance was to be apprehended from
the favages, of which the figns daily increafed,
that all neceflary precautions were to be ufed
againft any detriment which threatened fo great
a work, in order to which, he has petitioned
me to take what meafures Ihould feem good to
me, and though in my warrant of the 17th of
July in the above mentioned year 1700, very
particular orders and inftruftions were fent to
the government, concerning what was to be
done for the better fuccefs of the conqueft of
California, and promoting fettlements there, I
am now refolved by my royal order of the nth
of this month, to renew the like dired:ions to
you ; at the fame time making known to you
how agreeable thofe accounts were to me, by
reafon of the great advantages which are ex-
pedled from the ardent zeal of the miflionaries
of
CALIFORNIA. 275
of the reverend fociety, whom you are hereby
direfled to afllft, and countenance on all occa-
fions, which may conduce to their relief and
fatisfaflion, and the accomplifliment of the
holy end, to which their indefatigable labours
are direfted, as I expe6l from you great duty
to God and the crown. You likewife are to
take care that they be occafionally afTifted by all
perfons in office and others ; you are to fend
me an account of all your proceedings. Given
at Madrid the nth of December, 1702 — — I
the Queen. By her majefty's order, don Manuel
de Apperregui."
Whilft thefe fchedules were in agitation at
Madrid, not the leafl thing was done at Mexico
in favour of the miflion on his majefty's ac-
count. It is true, that this v/as in fome mea-
fure impeded by two conquefts, which the
government of Mexico had undertaken with
great vigour : the firll was of the garrifon of
Panzacola, on the gulf of Mexico, in the pro-
vince of Florida, where it joins to Louifiana,
in 69 deg. W. longitude according to the fa-
mous geographer monfieur d*Anville, from
the common meridian of the ifle of Ferro, or
in 291 E. longitude, and in 30 degrees and
a half north latitude. The fecond was that of
the province of Los Tezas, lying North of New
T 2 Mexico,
276 HISTORY OF
Mexico, in 95 degrees weft longitude, or in
265 eaftern longitude, from the fame common
meridian J and in 38 degrees north latitude.
In the firft conqueft, above a million of dollars
was expended in the year 1700, only Pan-
zacola might not fall into the hands of other
nations. Great advantages were alfo expedted
from the conqueft of Los Texas, which was car-
ried on without any regard to the expence.
However both diverted the attention of the go-
vernment from California. But the chief caufe
of fo many delays and obftru(5lions was jea-
loufy, that evil which, from the beginning, has
clogged all the plans of thefociety. This malig-
nant pafTion, which lurked in the corrupt hearts
of many by fpecious pretences, infedts the good
intentions and fimplicity of the incautious.
They whofe hearts are continually grovelling
amidft the mire of this world, think it a mere
chimera, that any one fliould expofe himfelf to
great fatigues and dangers, without having in
view a fuitable prefent reward -, and confe-
quently how coukl perfons of fuch fentiments
believe, that the fathers, amidft fuch labours,
diftrefles, and troubles, were aiming only at the
glory of God, and the converfion of favages.
The former expeditions to Cahfornia, though
iinfuccefsful, had fcrved to enrich great num-
bers, cither by the large fums of the royal reve-
nue
CALIFORNIA. 277
nuc which had been expended, or by fifhing
and trading for pearls. Thejefuits were with-
out any of thefe advantages. But the report
of their being mailers of CaHfornia, had no
fooner fpread, than many of Mexico conceived,
and induftrioufly gave out, that the jefuits
found great treafures there. Befides the con-
tributions of the benefactors, though not at all
equal to the expences of the enterprife, yet
were more than fufficient to make a great noife
among thofe, who though they did not think
fit to envy the jefuits, the toils, dangers, and
hardfhips, through which they were feeking
the kingdom of God, yet were thefirft to envy
them their temporal aggrandizement and repu-
tation. This indeed was wanting in a con-
queft, which abounded only in wants. Yet
the former account of the pearls ftrengthened
thefe malicious reports, which were carefully
difleminatcd among the people as powerful rea-
fons, and cloathed with the appearance of pa-
triotifm, care of the publick money, and zeal
for his majefty's fervice.
There was alfo another caufe which fprung
up in the very bofom of the miflion ; and this
was the uneafmefs of the captain of the
garrifon, Antonio Garcia de Mendoza,
with whom the fatigues of his employment
little agreed. But what he bore Hill with
T 3 greater
278 H I S T O R Y O F
greater impatience was his fubordinatlon to the
fathers, who would not allow him to opprefs
the Indians by any of thofe pretences, which, in
other parts, have been fo fuccefsfuUy praftifed
by covetoufnefs for obtaining a fudden for-
tune on the ruin of thofe unhappy people.
Accordingly about this time he wrote i'everal
letters to his friends and the viceroy, full of
complaints againft the fathers, though with
fuch equivocation, that in one to the viceroy,
dated the zid of Cftober 1700, after bellow-
ing on the fathers Salva-Tierra and Piccolo, the
titles of holy men, apoftles, and cherubims,
and magnifying their labour, zeal, and difm-
tereftednefs, he inveighs againft all inland ex-
peditions, levelings of ways, planting, tilling,
and other works, concluding at laft " I fee no
other remedy for putting a ftop totheferoman-
tick and ralh fchemes, than to give an account
of them to the mod reverend provincial of the
fociety, defiring him that he would order from
hence thcfe two religious, and fecure them in a
place where they may receive the punifhment
they defire : and for my part imprifon and chain
me in a callle, as a v/arning to thofe that
come after me, that they may not be carried
away by fuch delufions." Thefe letters,
which the enemies to the million did not grudge
to copy and diftribute great numbers of them
m
1
CALIFORNIA. 279
in Mexico and other parts, though written by
a man under a violent difcompofure of mind
made a deep impreffion on fome of the mini-
ftry J and on all who confidered the fubordina-
tion of the foldiers to the fathers, only as a grati-
fication of an exceflive defireof power : and who
looked upon this fubjedion as a fcandal to the
name of a foldier, although they were paid out
of charitable contributions. But the misfor-
tune was, that the difpute happened at a time
when .the treafury was exhaufted, and when
very few minded any thing elky than to make
the bed advantage of the uncertain life of a king,
naturally infirm, and now fick, and without
any fuccefibr. Another unhappy effe6b of thefe
reports being fpread among the people by per-
fons of figure, was, that they cooled the hearts
of many who before had chearfully and libe-
rally contributed to the fupportof the miffion,
that it became neceflary from an inability to
fupport it, to reduce the garrifon of Loretto to
only twelve foldiers, who voluntarily remained,
that the fathers might not be wholly forfaken.
The fmall number now left fpirited up the In-
dians to form feveral plots, and ail journies or
fettlements up the country, were no longer
to be thought of. The baptifm of the adults
was put oiF for a long time ; and fuch were
the hardfhips and diflrefiTes which befell our
T 4 people
28o HISTORY OF
people in California, that it plainly appeared
to be the divine will, that this fpiritual con"
quell: fhould be founded on oppofition and fuf-
ferirgs -, his ufual method in all works which
he owns as his. In a letter of O(5tober 3, 1 700,
father Salva-Tierra, after acquainting his friend
the folicitor of Guadalaxara, that he had dif-
charged 18 foldiers, adds, " For the dif-
charge of the remainder I only wait for the lad
refolutions of the audience of Mexico, to whom
I have fent my final protefts. After the total
redudlion of the foldiers, we ihall confult on
liquidating all arrears : and if, for want of a
military force, our California fons fhould
fend us to give an account to God, there will
flill remain our lady of Loretto, whounquefli-
onabiy will pay the whole,"
All hopes of afliftance from the government
being now defpaired of, father Ugarte colledted
in Mexico what contributions he could : thefe
he laid out according to the bills which had
been fent him •, and with an intent of remain-
ing in California for ever, he requefled leave to
fend that unlucky veflel the San Jofeph, which
after twenty- two months fhe had been
building on the coaft of New Galicia, was not
yet finilhed. It was with great difficulty his
fuperiors would admit of it 5 and having left
the concerns of the mifiion in the hands of the
faithful
CALIFORNIA. 28f
faithFul father Alexandre Romano, he left
Mexico on the third of December, being the
feftival of Sc. Xavier his patron ; he took the
way of Queretaro and Guadalaxara, in order to
acquaint Ozio and the folicitor Miranda, of
the flacc of affairs -, and having given proper
orders on the coaft of Cinaloa and Ahome, for
fending away the long-boat with provifions, he
traveled above 400 leagues to the river Hiaqui,
where he hoped to find father Juan Maria, but
he was difappointed -, and his impatience to
reach tlieic rew milfions for the converfion
of the gentiles, not admitting of any delay, in-
ftead of v/airing for him, he boldly got into an
old fmall boat left as unferviceable on the
coaft, and having in three days crofted the gulf
with a fair wind, he arrived at Loretto on the
19th of March, on the feftival of the patriarch
St. Jofepli, whom he had chofen for his pro-
testor in fo dangerous a paflage. Here he
found father Piccolo, and the people of the
garrifon in the utmoft melancholy and diftrefs,
as fince laft Odlober, they had received no fup-
ply, nor any account from the coaft. Pro-
vidence a few days after, was pleafed to com-
fort them by the arrival of the San Xavier long-
boat with the provifions, which father Ugarte
had put on board three months before. But
by the violence of contrary winds, the boat had
been
282 H I S T O R Y O F
been beating the fea all the time, fo that great
part of the provifions was expended.
SECT. V.
Attempts and voyages for difcovering the
jund:ion of California with the
continent of New Spain : a fliort nar-
rative of the defigns and heroick labours
cf 'father Francifco Kino, in the miffions
of Sonora and Pineria 5 with an account
of them.
Father Salva-Tierra, with inconceivable grief,
faw himfelf on the point of abandoning for
ever, after fuch a great expcnce to v/ell dif-
pofed perfons, the converfion of California,
from the impoffibility of procuring a fubfiftence
from the miffionaries and others in the country,
and from the delay, uncertainty, and continual
want of fuccours from New Spain. He faw that
without fuch provifions, all the meafures of the
moft ardent zeal for the converfion of the In-
dians would be of no efiTecfl. Laftly, he faw
that new oppofitions were daily raifing in
Mexico againll affording him the necefiary fup-
plies. In this exigency he determined to crofs
the gulf in fearch of others, and for opening
a way to receive them with Wis uncertainty and
I danger.
CALIFORNIA. 283
danger. His hopes were grounded on the
miflions of the jefuits, in the province of So-
nor?-, which he flattered himfelf might here-
after fiake one body with thofe of California,
by a reciprocation of fupplies, and all kinds of
good offices : to this puiDofe he left Loretto
at the end of O'- tooer 1700, and landed at Ci-
naloa, where having collefled fome contribu-
tions and fiiccours for his milTion, he went to
Sonora to meet his old reverend friend father
Kino. This apoftolical jefiiit, who, as we have
relared, had firft put Salva-Tierra on the Ca-
lifornian defign, and being detained as a prifo-
ner at Sonora, by the neceiTity of his perfonal
prefcncs in that province, had endeavoured to
fupport the iaft mentioned father, by colle(5ling
donations, and fending from Guayma and
Hiaqui, furniture, beafts for breeding, and pro-*
vifions, which he procured among the mines
and millions. But neither his elevated thoughts,
nor thofe of the venerable Salva-Tierra, were
limited to the prefent time, nor to low objeds;
both formed the fcheme of fubjeding to
the king the vaft countries of America,
contiguous to the South fea, one carrying on
his fpiritual conquefts along the north of Ca-
lifornia, and the other through the continent
of America, till he arrived at lad in the coun-
tries oppofite to Puerto deMonte-Rcy, and cape
Mendozino,
284 HISTORYOF ^
Mendozino, in cafe California was not found
to be an ifland, at the fame time converting all
the interjacent country to chriftianity. Thefe
great men were not able to accomplifh their exten-
five fchemes, nor hitherto have the jefuits who
fucceeded them in their mifiions and labours.
But it is worth taking notice of here, what each
did feparately towards the execution of fo vafl:
a project, and lay open the noble views with
which they were animated : for the reafons for
the execution of them being of the fame nature
and validity now, it will be proper to enter
into a detail of the plan, which in this enter-
prife is at any time to be followed : and this
will further ihew the importance and the con-
nexion of the feveral mifllons, and what may be
expedled under the good pleafure of providence
from the enlargement and profperity of them.
But in order to this, it is necelTary, by way of di-
"•refllon, to mve a fliort account of the miflions
of Sonora. The particular narrative of the faid
miflions will more circumftantially gratify the
curiofity of the reader, with an infinite variety
of accounts. In the mean time, thofe I
am going to lay before him, are of the greatest
authenticity, having been at the pains of copy-
ing them from the original journals of father
Kino, father Juan Antonio Balthafar, for-
merly vilitor 01 the faid miflions, and now pre?
Cdent
CALIFORNIA. 2S5
fident of the province of Mexico -, a perfon
whofe zeal, labours, virtues, and talents, will
juftly entitle him to the admiration of pofterity.
The province of Sonora lies eaft of Califor-
nia, the gulf of that name running betwixt
both ; and thus, as we have faid, wafhing both
coafts. It is the leaft province of the Spanifli
dominions in America, along the coaft of the
South fea : for though that of New Mexico,
which lies north eaft of Sonora, be in a high-
,er latitude than this, it is a province on all fides
environed by land, without any iHue to the fea.
The government of Sonora reached north-
ward from the mouth of the river Hiaqui, to
the Apaches, who hitherto have been the fcourge
and the terror of the whole country. The lad
milTion of the coaft, was that of Concepcion de
Caborca in about thirty-one degrees, and about
ninety or one hundred leagues from the river
Hiaqui ; but was totally deftroyed laft year
1751, by the favages in an infurredlion, when
it was the happinefs of the two mifiionaries, fa-
ther Thomas Tello a native of Almagro, and
fon of Alonfo Tello and Ifabel Buytron, and
father Henrique Rohen to feal their faith by
martyrdom, though an inexpreiTible lofs to the
new eftabliftiment of chriftianity in thole parts.
Weftward it is bounded by the gulf of Califor-
nia J fouthward it joins to the provinces of Rio
Mayo,
1
286 H I S T O R Y O F
M'lyo, Cinaloa, and Ofti Muri, and eaftward
it reaches to the high mountain of Tarrahumara.
The circumference of the whole, is about three
hundred and fifty leagues. It is inhabited by
various nations of Indians, as the Opatas,
Topas, Teguaiamas, Heguis, the upper Pay mas
and the lower Paymas, the Seris, the Tepocas,
and Guayamas -, among all which are twenty-
four millions of jefuits. The air is falutary
and mild, the country very different, being
fteep mountains intermixed with delightful le-
vels and fruitful valleys, formed by the feveral
branches of the great mountain ; and where,
befides excellent paftures, are produced in great
plenty, moft of the efculent vegetables of Eu-
rope and America. The greatefl inconveniency
of this is, that along the gulf of California, its
coaft is a fucceflion of inacceffible mountains
and barren fands, without any frelh water: and
for this reafon, from Hiaqui to Caborca it is
inhabited only by the Guayamas, the Tepocas,
and the Seris, who live by fifliing. Such a dif-
pofition of the Ihore, with impediments of
another nature, has not only rendered any kt-
dements on the coad by Spanifh colonies im-
pradicable, but alfo made the formation of
any miflions extremely difficult. And though
many trials and entrances have been made, and
in theie late years, the Indians on the coaft
have
CALIFORNIA. 2S7
have admitted the faith among them, yet it is
far from being in a proper manner and
firmnefs, as was moft unhappily proved by
the infurreftion abovementioned in 1751;
and which it is juftly feared will prove a lading
obftacle to its rcduftion. On this account,
though the province has a coaft of fuch extent,
it may be looked upon as inland, affording
no manner of conveniency for a maritime com-
merce with the other provinces : and to the
fame caufe it is owing, that the frontiers of Ca-
lifornia do not receive from Sonora, which it
might, were the difpofition of its coaft other-
wife.
Sonora may be faid at the fame tinie to be
one of the pooreft and richeft provinces of Ame-
rica, and of the world. Befides its fruitfulnefs
in all forts of ufeful vegetables, it is every
where full of veins of filver ore and mines, and
of fuch richnefs, that what is related of fome,
exceeds all credibility ; and if the allegations in
fuits before the fupreme council of the Indies
may be depended on, Potofi and the other
mines, however rich, are no longer to be prin-
cipally admired, Sonora affording mountains,
wanting very little of being entirely compofed of
maffy filver. Several Spanifli families in different
camps or fettlements, make confiderable advan-
tages of thefe mines : yet is this province one
of
288 HISTORYOF
of the poorefl, and in the whole world there is
fcarce a more nnanifeft proof of that truth,
though but little attended to, that the wealth
and power of a Hate does not confift in gold,
filver, gems, and the noble metals, but in the
number and induftry of its inhabitants ; a well
cultivated foil, graziery, and variety of manu-
factures for confumption and exportation, and
the exad adminiflration of juftice. Sonora,
I repeat it, is in extreme poverty ; and it is
even vifible, that every day it becomes thinner
of inhabitants. The caufes are general to ail
Spanilh America and even to Old Spain. But
they are of greater force in Sonora, as lying
more out of the way of the trade to Europe -, a
detail of it would require a longer difcourfe than
is confiftent with this place : but as this is an
cfTential point in the knowledge of your confti-
tution of the province, and as the religious fet-
tlements already founded, and the fuccefs of
the mifllons and conquefls, both of Sennora
and California depended on it, it will be pro-
per, pafllng by others of lefs confideration, to
lay open the two moll principal fources. The
firfl: is, that as filver is here to be confider-
ed as the principal, or only mercantile com-
modity proper for exportation, the advantage
made by the filver, little anfwers the charge
gf working it. The feparation of the filver by
fircj
1
CALIFORNIA. 2S9
fire, is attended with fo great an expcnce, that,
large as the produce is, the advantage is little
or nothing. The reparation of the filver by
mercury is flill more chargeable than by fire.
For befides the excefTive price of mercury at
lirft hand, there is the charge of land carriage
on the backs of beads, for no lefs than fix
hundred leagues, the diftance betwixt Vera-
Cruz and Sonora. And thus the mines be-
come relinquifhed ; the feparating of the filver
by quickfilver yielding no advantage, as is ac-
knowledged by alearned Mexican, in conformity
to the demonflration of another able judge, in deli-
vering his opinion on this head. The confe-
quence of this is, that the province is without
thofe goods from abroad which it wants ; or
that in exchange for them, it gives thofe very
funds which it flands in need of, in manufaflu-
rlng its flaple produce; by which this is
entirely at a ftand, and every thing goes to
ruin. The fecond reafon of this poverty is,
that in America, and much more in Sonora,
there is a lamentable want of almoft all neceflary
and convenient manufaftures, trades, and call-
ings. Other European nations, though abounding
with fuch large quantities of various goods and
manufadlures within themfelves, and an infinite
number of products to be difpofed of at
foreign markets, are yet feen vigorouily to en-
VoL. I. U courage
1
290 HISTORYOF
courage in their American colonies all kinds of
trades, manufadures, arts, and handicrafts •, well
knowing that otherwife their plantations would
foon degenerate into deferts. Of thefe eftablifh-
ments the fare confequences are agriculture and
graziery, for the fubliflence of the artifans, and
likewife for furnilhing them with many materials.
Thefe two alone form the true riches of a coun-
try, as it confifls entirely in aplentyofprovifions,
and of inhabitants, and the reciprocal com-
merce betwixt them. The great Cortes ufed all
poffible endeavours, for introducing into Mex-
ico the whole train of arts and trades, to which
Old Spain owed its populoufnefs, wealth, hap-
pinefs, and power, efpecially precepts in retaining
the regular and falutary motion, which it de-
rived from the catholick kings, Cortes's max-
ims were followed by a few of the viceroys, as
the great archbifhop Qiiiroga, coufin to the
archbifhop cardinal of Toledo, of that name,
and who by thefe meafures diffufed through
Mechoacan, that temporal and fpiritual happi-
ncfs which will eternally endear his memory,-
to thofe parts : but fmce that time the fcene
is fadly changedj and Old Spain, though without
goods, trades, and manufadtures, fufricient for
its own confumptionj receiving, as is well
known, fuch vail quantities from abroad, yet
mull furnifli half the world, i. e. America,.
with
CALIFORNIA. 291
with moft of its neceflaries. The province of
Sonora we are fpeaking of, muft receive what
goods it neither produces nor nnakes, i. c. all,
a few provifions excepted, not immediately from
Europe but from Mexico, after all the rifques
and charges of fix hundred leas;ues land car-
riage. What then muft be the value of a yard of
cloth, carried from Holland to Cadiz, from thence
exported to Vera Cruz, thence carried to Mex-
ico •, and at laft from the twelfth, or even the
twentieth time fold at Sonora, and perhaps by
neceffity, bought at the price which an uncon-
fcionable dealer is pleafed to fix on it. Thus
as America is in a great meafure deftitute of one
of the main fupports of every ftate, in want
of manufaftures and handicrafts for home con-
fumption ; and confequently by reafon of their
intimate connection, little encouragement for
agriculture and graziery, great numbers of peo-
ple, as either without lands, or as unable or
unwilling to improve them, not only fall fhort
of that wealth, in purfuit of which they left
Europe, but even find themfelves without the
means of a decent fubfiftence. The mines are
generally thought to be the only refource for
acquiring both -, many are lb dazzled by the
computation of their produ6ts, that they forget
to reckon the charges of them -, and moft peo-
ple, without any regard to the good of the
U 2 country,
292 HISTORY OF
country, or of poflerity, engrofTed by an
eager defire of amafllng a fortune, in order to
return to Europe ; and as from the mines are ta
arife the funds for the enormous charges of the
works done and to be done, and likewife for
providing themfelves with all foreign goods :
and after thefe expences alfo for profit, this
produces a necefllty of reducing as low as pof-
fible, the charges of the works j of looking out
for tranfported labourers, laying exceflive talks
on them, putting them off, paying them in
bad money, or refufing to pay them at all,
or even fo much as give them vifluals, charge
them with crimes they are not guilty of, in
order to flrip them of what they have already
earned, and of haraffing the poor creatures by
opprelTions of various kinds. In the remote
provinces of Sonora, the charges are more
than double, and the difficulties greater, bcfidcs
the want of every thing, and the impunity of
extortion from the yaft difhance of the upper
tribunals. Farther, no negroes are fcnt hither, fo.
that only weak and fpiritlefs Indians are to work
in the mines, though a moft toilfome labour :
and for this work, they who are not prefTed as
it v/ere to be labourers at the farms, are with
no lefs violence, forced away from their midionS':
though thcr- be fomething of a greater appear-
aiiCe for the former, the mita days, or thofe
ill
3
CALIFORNIA. 293
in which, accarding to the laws, the labours of
the mines and fields are to be changed, do not
fuffice for the avidity of the owners, who by a
thoufand fraudulent pra6tices, engage them at
all times: fo that many who go to the mines,
never in their whole lives return again to their
native places. It is in vain for the miffionary
to reclaim them ; befides being difappointed, it
is well if the blacked calumnies are not railed
againfl him, or even if he does not fuffer fome
violence, in countries where the mifchief is ge-
nerally in thofe hands where the remedy fhould
be found ; and where any recourfe to a higher
power is impradlicable. If they do appeal, imme -
diately follows a rupture with thofe, by whofe
afliftance, the converfion was to be carried on;
and againft his information appear great num-
bers of others, by which his caufe, however
juft, is overthrown, and he is fufpended, if
not totally rejeded, without waiting for the
opinion of the government. In the mean time,
the gentile Indians, who are yet free, haughtily
refufe to become fubjed to the yoke of the go-
fpel,when they fee their converts forced into fuch
a wretched flavery.
Thofe alfo who have been reduced, are often
provoked to a revolt ; and, even in the pro-
foundeft tranquihty, have been charged with
jnfurredions, that, under this pretence, an armed
U 3 force
294 H I S T O R Y O F
force might be fent againft them, to roiife
them to an oppofitiori : and then to take them
prifoners, and as a punilhmentqre condemn-
ed to work for life in the mines -, or at the
farm houfes. Such proceedings dccreafe the
number of Indians ; efpecially as they often
procure reUef from their miftries by their
own hands. The country being thus deprived
ofics greateft advantages, Hes, notwithflanding
its inexhauilible mines of filver and fertihty,
in the moft wretched poverty.
Father Eufebius Francifco Kino entered in
the year 1687, the province of Sonora -, being
appointc'd to the only milTion then fubfifting,
and bordering on the Indians of Pimeria Alta,
a province extending above one hundred leagues
N. of Sonora, and weftward to tlie gulf of
California. He labo'.red in the mifllon and
reduflion of the Indians, with a zeal truly
worthy of admiration ; went undauntedly alone
among them, formed them into villages, pre-
vailed on them to fow their lands and take care
of their cattle : as the means of keeping them
together, and employing fubordinate agents for
their civil polity. He had the patience to
learn the different languages, tranflated the ca-
techifm and prayers, which without being
difgufled by their indocility and dullnefs, he
laught them verbally. He likewife compofed
vocabularies
1
CALIFORNIA. 295
vocabularies and obfervations, for the ufe of
his nQlflants and fucccflbrs : and fuch were the
happy eiTedsof his wonderful mildnefs andcon-
defcenfion, that they all loved him and confided
in him as their general lather. He built houfes
and chapels, formed villages and towns i re-
conciled nations who were at enmity : and had he,
according to his repeated requeft, bf^en fecond-
ed by other milTionaries, the converlion of all
the nations, betwixt Sonora and the rivers Gila
and Colorado, might have been cafily accom-
plifhed, and the mifiions of New Spain and
California, have carried on an intercourfe by
land ; a defign which always appeared extreme-
ly difficult. But the hardfhips which this
worthy man fuffered from the Indians were the
leaft, or rather not to be compared to thofe he
met with from fome Spaniards, againll whofe
violences he was as a wall of brafs. in favour
of his converts. They obftruited his enterprifes
and prevented his being afTifted by others, it
being their intereft, that the poor Pimas fhould
be branded with the name of rebels and enemies,
that they might commit depredations among
them, and force the Indians to fervc them as
flaves. Befides, the farms already fettled, in or-
der to fupport the civil government of the
Indians and their miniiters, after fuch labours
and fatigues as cannot be eafily conceived,
U 4 foon
296 H I S T O R Y O F
foon fell to decay : for it was father Kino alone,
who had been able to obtain from the audience
of Guadalaxara, tiiat the new converts among
the Indians, fliould not, during the firft five
years of their converfion, be obliged to work
either on the lands or in the mines -, though
Charles II. from bis regard to religion,
was pleafed by an order dated the 1 4th of May
1686, to prolong thefe five years to twenty ;
but this was never obferved, and the father
had the morcification to fee thofe he had baptifed,
drav\^n from the mountains and deferts, and in-
ftruifled with infinite pains, forcibly dragged
from him to be buried in the depths of a mine,
whence few ever return. Befides thefe methods
for drawing them from the miffions, they fuf-
f^red them in the mines and farms to be guilty
of the mod abominable excefles, which the
fathers took care to reflrain in their habitations :
yet notwithfcanding fo many formidable oppo-
fitions, father Kino in the year 1 690, when
father Salva-Tierra, then vifitor of the miffions,
came into Pimeria, fhewed him feveral new
villages he had founded ; and the promifing
difpofitions he had made, for baptifing the
Pimas and other more diftant nations.
As both thefe miffionaries were defirous, if
polTible, to enter California, it was agreed,
that father Kino fliould endeavour to procure
CALIFORNIA. 297
aiTiRants on the coaft of Pimeria and Sonora, in
order to make the firfl: effay in thefe provinces,
and from thence to fupply the barren nefs of
California, confiding in the hearty affedion
which he every where found in the Indians.
Accordingly, father Kino the following year
penetrated as flir as the coaft, and in that part
of the country of the Pimas called Soba, he
built, in the year 1694, a fmall veftel, in which
he came to the bay called Santa Sabina. He
alfo founded, in a convenient fituation, twenty-
two leagues up the country, the mifTion of la
Concepcion de Caborca. In the year 1698,
on father Salva-Tierra's entrance into California,
father Kino in the month of September, left
his mifllon of Dolores, and after going north-
ward as far as the river Gila, vifiting by the
way the rancherias of his catechumens, among
the Pimas, Opas, and as far as la Encarnacion
and San Andres, he continued his journey, and
at eighty leagues from San Andres, came to
the gulf of California, where, in thirty-two
degrees north latitude he found a creek, abound-
ing with frefh water and wood, formerly called
the bay of Santa Clara, lying near the lofty
ridge of mountains of that name. From hence
he took a view of the coaft fouthward to the
bay of Santa Sabina ; whence he went to Ca-
borca, and from thence returned to his miffion
of
298 HISTORY OF
of Dolores, after travelling above 300 leagues
through a rugged uncultivated country, and
the inhabitants deftitute of all religion. Father
Kino fent an account of this journey to his fu-
periors, and to th'e fathers Salva-Tierra and
Piccolo, from whom he received thanks for his
intrepidity and labours, to promote the com-
mon good of thofe conquefts. In the following
years father Kino made leveral other progrefles,
equally long, difficult, and dangerous : fome-
times to vifit his catechumens to confirm them
in the faith, and inftru6t them in what was
further necefiary for the fubfiftence, and the re-
gularity of their commodities •, fometimes he
was accompanied by captain Mattheo Mange, in
order to confute the calumnies and falfe reports,
and quiet infurredions. In his laft excurfions
he was attended by the fathers Antonio Leal,
and Francifco Gozalvo, with a defign of going
among the Apaches, who, however, famous
for ferocity, at that time moved by the reputa-
tion of father Kino, had defired fome fathers to
be fent among them for their inftrudlion.
This journey was, however, rendered abortive,
and the moft favourable opportunity of civili<r
zing thofe favages, abfblutely loft. Amidft
thefe important concerns, this great man took
care, by the produ6ls of his villages, and of the
Other miflions of the province, to fupply the
want
CALIFORNIA. 299
want of provifions in California, from the har-
bours of San Jofeph de Guaymas, and that of
Hiaqui : and in other things fhewed himfelf an
alert and prudent agent for thefe mifTions.
However furprifing this may appear, yet
father Kino's intrepidity was not to be limited.
In all thefe toillbme progrefles, and many others
through unknown countries, whither his un-
daunted fpirit liad carried him, hewas always de-
firous of knowing whether California was united
to the continent of New Spain, or whether the
gulf continued its diredion northward till it
ilTued into the South- fea above cape Mendo-
cino, and forming one of the largefl iflands in
the world. Being a confummate geographer,
he was not ignorant that it was formerly con-
fidered as part of the continent. But he alfo
knew that ever fmce the time of Drake, the
Englifh navigator, the contrary opinion had
prevailed ; and that all the moderns placed it
as an ifland, there being extant alfo fome jour-
nals of mariners, according to which they went
round California through a ftreight, and gave
the parts and places along which they pafTed
their own names. Nor was the father infenfi-
ble of the great importance of folving this geo-
graphical problem, and of the advantages
which would refult to the conqueft, by carrying
on the Sonora and Californian miflions north-
ward.
300 H I S T O R Y O F
"ward, till they fhould meet ; and thus be of
mutual affiftance to each other by land. Ac-
cordingly in the year 1 700, he refolved to vifit
his Neophites, and penetrate as far as pofTible,
in order to alcertain this junction, which, from
the anfwers and accounts of the Indians, he was
inclined to believe.
On the 24th of September 1700, he fet out
from his mifllon of Dolores ; and having
vifited the villages de Los Remedios, and San
Simon and Judas, he came to San Ambrofio
del Bufanio Tucubabia and Santa Tulalia, hav-
ing previoullyfpentfome time with 300 Indians,
who on a miflionary being fent them, offered
to incorporate themfelves with thofe of Bufa-
fani ; fix leagues farther 40 Indians came out
to meet him, and at the fame diftance farther,
he came to the village della Merced ; twenty
leagues farther, he found the village of San
Geronymo and four rancherias : at the diftance
of five leagues he came to a piece of water, and
met with another 1 2 leagues farther ; and
after traveUing 10 other leagues, he found iiim-
felf at the river Gila. Its fource rifes in the
country of the Apaches, from whence it runs
eaft and weft in above 44 degrees of latitude.
And after receiving the waters of the river
Azul, it lofes itfelf in the famous river Colo-
rado. The father followed the courfe of the
river
CALIFORNIA. 301
river for 50 leagues, his attendants being a mix-
ture of Pimas, Opas, and Cocomaricopas : and
after pafTing through feveral rancherias of thefe
nations, he came to the Yumas, who live on
the fartheft banks of the river Gila, before its
conflux with the Colorado •, and likewife thofe
on the eaftern fide of that great river. Here
he afcended a mountain of remarkable height,
which however afforded him no fight of the fea ;
nor could he, though alTifted by a good tele-
fcope, difcover any thing but land. In the far-
ther profecution of his journey, he came to that
part of the country where the river Gila joins
the Colorado* near which they told him, the
four nations called the Quiquimas, the Bagio-
pas, the Hobonomas, and Cutguanes had their
refidence. At the requeft of the Yumas, he pro-
ceeded to the junftion of the two rivers 5
crofied the Gila, which here is very large, and
divided into three branches, and ten or twelve
leagues farther, came to a fertile fpot of land
in 35 degrees, lying in an angle formed by the
jundion of thefe two rivers, to which he gave
the name of San Dionyfio. Here above 1500
perfons came to fee him in a body ; and on be-
ing examined, they all agreed that there was no
fea near the country ; for many of them living on
the weft fide of the Colorado, had often fwam
acrofs the river. They entreated him that he
would
302 H I S T O R Y O F
would likewife vifit the country j but it was
not thought prudent to comply, from the J
fcarcity of provlfions, wearinefs, ficknefs, and
difcontent of the Pimas. So that after a great
many kind exprefllons, and a few fmall prefents,
he returned to the place where he had firft taken
view of the country. Here he afcended the
higheft mountain of the whole chain, from
■whence, by the help of his telefcope, he had a
diftindt view of the mountains of California,
and perceived, that after the conflux of the two
rivers at San Dionyfio, the Colorado run ten
leagues towards the S. W; and 20 more fouth-
ward, till it difcharges itfelf into the gulf of
California. He continued his journey to Ca-
borca by a new route, and at the end of O6I0-
ber, arrived at his miflion of Dolores, after a
journey of about 400 leagues.
Father Kino was now convinced that Cali-
fornia was conne6led to the continent of Ame-
rica, the great river Colorado only intervening,
and accordingly publifhed the difcovery, and
the commandant of Sonora, in the king's
name, and the fuperiors of his order, formally
returnexi him thanks.
Father Juan Maria Salva-Tierra, who in the
fame month came from California, in order to
folicit afllftance among the miifions and garri-
fons of Sonora, was greatly pleafed at this ac-
count ;
CALIFORNIA. 303
count; and by letters, and fince in perfon,
congratulated father Kino. But this difcovery
being founded only on a diftant view, father
Salva-Tierra exhorted father Kino to undertake
a fecond journey, that he might perfonally
prove the truth of it, judging that the whole
welfare of his Californian miffion depended
upon it. He even defired him to crofs from
Sonora, to the river Colorado -, and after fol-
lowing the courfe of that river, to proceed
along the coail of California to the garrifon of
Loretto. Father Kino readily agreed to the
invitation, and though it fuffered a delay of
feme days, on account of the inroads of the
lawlefs Apaches, in the village of Cucurpe, and
the neighbouring country ; the fathers at
length fet out from the mifiion de Dolores, on
the I ft of March 1701, and as they took dif-
ferent ways, in order to vifit the catechumens,
Concepcion de Caborca was appointed for
their rendezvous. Father Salva-Tierra went
by San Ignacio, in order to reach the river
Caborca, the courfe of which he followed
through Tibutama, Axi, San Diepo de Uqui-
•toa, and San Diepo de Pitquin, till he arrived
at the rendezvous. Father Kino took a cir-
cuit by Cocofpera, San Simon and Judas, till
at San AmbroHo de Bufanio, he came to the
fame river of Gaborca, and kept along its banks,
through
304 H I S T O R Y O F
through Sarrii, Tibutama, and other villages
to Caborca. From hence they fet out toge-
ther northward, attended by lo foldiers, and
came to San Eduardo de BaifTia, and San Luis
de Bacapa : at the latter they were met by the
Marcos de Niza, provincial of the Francifcans,
as he himfelf mentions in his account of the
feven cities of Cibola. Twelve leagues far-
ther brought them to San Marcelo, the only
fpot on all that coaft and the adjacent parts for
fettling a miflion, the foil being very fit both
for tillage and pafture, and abounding with
water for all ufes. This place, according to
father Kino's obfervations, lies 50 leagues fouth
of Caborca, 50 north of the.river.Gila, and at
the fame diftance eaftward from San Xavier del
Bac •, bearing N. W. from the mouth of the
river Colorado.
At San Marceloj they met with an agreeable
anfwer to the meffages fent to the Quicimas,
fome of whom came to meet them at a fpring
eight leagues from San Marcelo. By thefe
they learned that there were two ways by which
they might pafs to the mouth of the Colorado ;
the one over valleys, mountains, and long
circuits to the left of the mountains of Santa
Clara, the other fhorter by the Vv'ay of the
coaft, leaving thofe mountains to the right,
along funds of a great extent to the river.
The
CALIFORNIA. 305
The Indians perhaps, as they are inured to travel
with baggage or provifions, were not aware of
the difficulty of pafTing the fands. However
the fathers chofe the way along the coatl:, as it
was proper to take a view of it. But this
choice in a great meafure fruftated the intentions
of the journey. After travelling 30 leagues in
queft of the fea, they came to a fmall ranche-
ria ; and leaving on the north the great moun-
tain of Santa Clara, whofe fides for the length
of half a league, are covered with pumice ftone,
they arrived at the fandy wafte on the 19th of
March. On the 20th captain Juan Matheo
Mange and father Kino, afcended a lofty moun-
tain, whence they not only faw the fea, but
alfo the oppofite coaft and mountains of Cali-
fornia, and found the latitude to be 30 degrees.
On the 2 1 ft they reached the fhore ; but being
without water or provifions, they found it im-
poflible to proceed along the fand, and accord-
ingly returned to San Marcelo, from whence
they fet out again, but taking a higher way,
and in 32 degrees ^§ minutes, afcended a
hill of no extraordinary height -, but about
an hour before fun fet, they had, from its fum-
mit a clear view of the cordillera of California ;
particularly the hills of Mefcal and Azul.
Here they alfo clearly difcovered, beyond all
poffibility of doubt, the jun(ftion of California,
Vol. I. X and
3o6 HISTORYOF
and Pimeria Alta, and the gulf of California
terminating at the mouth of the Rio Colorado.
This father Kino affirms in his MSS. narratives,
and in proof of it, alledged the accounts of
captain Juan Matheo Mange, printed in French;
though I have not been able to procure them
either in that or the Spanifh language.
There is however, no occafion for this
voucher, father Salva-Tierra faying the fame
thing in a letter dated at Loretto the 29th
of Auguft 1 70 1, wherein he mentions the dif-
covery and its advantages to the father general
Thurfo Gonzales.
*' I acquainted you, reverend father, that
having landed on the other fide of New Spain,
I travelled along thofe coafts till from the un-
animous informations of the Indians, I had rca-
fon to believe that New Spain and California
were united ; but willing to have further fatis-
faftion with regard to a matter of fuch impor-
tance, I continued my journey, till from a
mountain, and that no very high one, I ob-
ferved the woody mountains of California join-
ed to thofe of New Spain. This difcovery I
owe to the holy virgin of Loretto j and I in-
tend a more circumftantial account, which I
hope foon will be in your hands. I brought
with me father Eufebio Francifco Kino, who
I hope, after this voyage, will go in perfon to
thofe
CALIFORNIA. 307
thofe parts, which we have only feen at a great
diftance, being in about 32 deg. latitude. This
excurfion at prefent feems of little advantage,
on account of the diftance from 26 degrees,
where we were in California, to above 32, where
the gulf feems to clofe. Thefe however, are
fteps by which within a few years California may
come to be the foul of this kingdom, the main
fource of its opulence, the fcene of chearful
induilry -, and accordingly I conclude that you
will charge all perfons that they continue to
defend and affift us in thefe mifiions of Nueftra
Sennora de Loretto de Californias."
There they found the greateft part of the In-
dians, who, the preceding year had met at San'
Dionyfio, above the conflux of the rivers ;
and from thefe they knew that it was frill 30
leagues from the fand. The provifions now grew
fhort : fo that not without running the rifque
of the greateft dangers, father Kino returned
to San Marcelo to build a church, and give di-
re6tions concerning a nev/ milTion. And Salva-
Tierra to Caborca, Dolores, and the other
miflions of Sonora, in order to colle6b chanties
which he carried to the river Hiaqui ; and from
thence at the latter end of April to Loretto.
This fection cannot in juftice to father Kino
be concluded, without taking notice of his
Unwearied fervices in order to afcertain the
X 2 jun(fl:ion
1
3o8 H I S T O R Y O F
junflion of thofe countries, and obtain the re-
conciliation of new nations, by difpofing them
to receive the gofpel.
In November of the fame year 1 701, he went
to San Marcelo, a different way from the for-
mer, thence to the river Gila, v/hich he ford-
ed at San Dionyfio near its influx into the Co-
lorado ; he afterwards repafled the Gila and
followed the courfe of the Colorado by the ran-
cherias of the Yumas and Qiiinquimas, to the
diftance of 20 leagues. Here fuch a vaft mul-
titude of Indians came to meet him, that a
Spanifh lad ran away for fear. In this part the
river Colorado is about 200 yards broad. The
Indians crofs it by fwimming, and puihing be-
fore them their coryftas, a fort of trough or
vefTel made of rulhes and herbs, in which they
carry a bulhel or two of maize ; and thefe are
of fo clofe a texture that the contents are never
damaged by the water. Here father Kino made
a balza of pieces of trees, and having to the
wonder of the Indians, crofTed the river on it,
found on its weftern fhore great numbers of
Indians of different tribes, as Quinquimas, Coa-
nopas, Bagiopas, and Cetguanes, to whom for
the firft time, by means of interpreters among
the Pimas, he preached the gofpel. He travelled
on foot three leagues along the country, till he
came to the rcfidenceofthecafique of theQuin*
quimas.
CALIFORNIA. 309
quimas. Here he found all the country level,
intermixed with woods, and the foil fit for
tillage and graziery. The number of fouls in
this neighbourhood, to which he gave the name
of Prefentation de Nueftra Sennora, he compu-
ted at 10,000. Here they offered him a great
many azure fhells, which are only found on
the oppofite coaft of California -, and on en-
quiring after the South-fea, he was informed
that it was but a journey of ten days. Father
Kino was extremely defirous of traverfing
the whole country to Monte-Rey, or cape
Mendocino. But there was no boat for car-
rying the beafts over the river: and without
them fuch a journey was not to be undertaken :
fo that he was obliged to content himfelf with
writing to father Salva-Tierra at Loretto, which
he judged to be about 130 leagues from that
place. His letters he trufted to the Quinquimas,
but they never came to hand. And now fatis-
fied with the difcovery of fo many nations be
returned, vifiting by the way the many villages
he had before fettled.
In February 1702, father Kino made his lafl
effort, accompanied with father Martin Gon-
zales, a milTionary, who voluntarily offered to at-
tend him in a journey of fuch labour and hard-
fhip, as only to be borne by the vigour and in-
trepidity of Kino. On the 28 th they arrived
Xs at
1
wo li
310 H I S T O R Y O F
at San Dionyfio, at the junftion of the two
rivers, inftruding great numbers, who flocked
to him from all parts. In March they ad-
vanced as far as the rancheria of Quinquimas,
to which they gave the name of San Rude-
fmdo. Here the Indians fhew'd a very aftonifli-
ing affability and gentlenefs ; and exprefled fo
mucli love for the fathers, and even for the
beads, that father Gonzales diftributed among
them part of his own apparel. They continued
their journey down the river Colorado fouth-
ward, till they came to its mouth, and the fea
coaft. Here m.any Indians came from the
weftern banks of the river, intreating them
that they would pafs over into their country.
Of thefe they enquired about the nations,
mountains, and rivers, of the oppoiite fide.
And were here again confirmed, that ten days
would bring them to the fliore of the South-fea.
The night of the loth they paffed at the very
mouth of the river, that at high-water the tide
came very near their beds. A balza was be-
gun for croffing the river, but the cumbrance
of the bealls, the breadth of the river, the
rapidity of the current, and efpecially the
illnefs of father Gonzales, by continual fatigue,
occafioned that defign to be dropped ; and all
he could do was to return with his fick brother.
Father Kino was for crolTing the fand as the
ihortcft
CALIFORNIA. 311
fhorteft way, and at the fame time take a fur-
vey of the coaft as far as San Marcelo. But
he found it impracticable, and accordingly re-
turned with all the hafte father Gonzales's cafe
required, to the miffion of Tibutama, where
he loft his fellow-traveller, whofe zeal was too
Itrong for hisconftitution. In the following years
father Kino was wholly taken up with promot-
ing and cementing the milTions begun in Pime-
ria, amidft very fevere perfecutions raifed againfl:
him and his converts; and being without any one
to aflift him in fo wide aprovince,and inhabited by
new chriftians and catechumens, he was obliged
to be continually travelling hard from one part
to another. But it was not till the year 1706
that he returned towards the Rio Colorado,
when he made an entrance into that country
with the chief military officers of Savora, who
by order of the governor were fent to view the
country, and with them Manuel de Oju^la, a
Francifcan. They found it the fame as at the
former entrances, on which they returned, and
father Kino, with the fame dauntlefs zeal, re-
paired to his mifllon, where he continued till
the year 1710, when he pafied from thefe
earthly abodes to the manfions of eternity.
X 4 SECT.
312 H I S T O R Y O F
SECT. VI.
New refolutions in California, and the
progrefs of its miffions till the end of
the year 1703.
The arrival of father Juan Maria Salva-Tierra
at Loretto, gave inexprefTible joy to all, as
they confidered him as theircommon father- but
father Ugarte, as knov/inghim bed, and being
moft intimate with him, received him with par-
ticular tranfports of joy. At firft he had not
a licence from the fuperiors to remain in Cali-
fornia ; but from his extreme defire of affifting
in the new miflion to the pagans, he obtained
it through the intereft of father Salva-Tierra,
who came very opportunely for admitting him
as his colleague, though thoroughly fenfible of
the want of fo adive an agent at Mexico. It
was immediately agreed, that father Piccolo
Ihould go to New Spain to have the bark at
Matanchel repaired, and negociate the com-
mon affairs of the miffion. Accordingly he put
to fea twice, but was both times driven back
by foul weather : fo that the voyage was laid
afide till a more favourable feafon. On this
father Piccolo returned to attend his miflion of
San Xavier ; and father Ugarte remained with
Salva-Tierra, at Loretto, in order to learn the
language
CALIFORNIA. 313
language and affifl: where there fhould be the
gren t-;il occafion.
Capt.u;; don Antonio Garcia de Mendoza,
ftlil rontinued by his difcontent to difturb the
ganiib ., {did t ) bring an odium upon it among
the men jn ;^ower: but feeing that after all his
repeated complaints, no order came from Mexi-
co to except him from a fubordination to the
fathers •, and t.iat thefe on the other hand,
would not pnmithim to opprefs the Indians
by forcing them to the pearl- fifliery, and other
]aborir»us employmcnu; for his advantage, he
thought proper to throw up his commifTion.
This father Salva-Tierra was very far from
objcd-img to, and nominattd in his ftead as his
Jieuter.anr, Ifidoro dt- Figuerva, who not long
after Ihcwed himfelr unworthy of his prefer-
meu'L by a remarkable aflion : for the Indians
of Vigge Biaundo, at the inftigation of their
priefts and phyficians, fuddenly formed a de-
fign of murdering father Piccolo, and deftroy-
ing his little habitation and chapel. In order
to this a confiderable number came down with
great violence, that the brave refiflance made
by a few who remained faithful, proved in-
efFedlual, but the father had providentially left
the houfe fome time before. Enraged at their
difappointment they attacked the houfe and
chapel, which they deftroyed, together with all
the
314 HISTORYOF
the furniture of both. Informed of the havock
by a faithful Indian, he withdrew to Loretto.
Vigge however was not to be forfaken, being
the moll proper part for fowing of all the land
yet difcovered ; the public fafety alfo required
that fuch an attempt fhould not pafs without
animadverfions. Accordingly the lieutenant
marched with a party of foldiers, but the In-
dians at fight of them fled from their ranche-
ria. The foldiers were for following them, but
this, on account of the breaches, was oppofed.
The party returned fo difcontented with their
leader as to occafion a private choice of a cap-
tain, which, by a great majority, went in fa-
vour of the Portugucfe, don Eftevan Rodri-
gues Lorenzo, who worthily filled that pofl
till the year 1 740. But the Indians feeing the
low ftate of the garrifon, obferved no meafures,
that when the foldiers were whipping a Cinaloa
Indian who had been treacheroufly concerned
in the rebellion of San Xavier, fome of that
rancheria feigning to have no ill defign, came
near the camp, and fliot fome arrows at the
captain and the company who purfued them to
no purpofe. Afterwards it was found neceffary
to pardon them, that the wound might not
bleed afrefh : and likewife becaufe they had
readily complied with the conditions prefcribed
them.
At
^
CALIFORNIA. 315
At the end of the lame year 1 700, father
Ugarte having obtained at a fufRcient acquaint-
ance with the language of the country, and
the Vigge Indians (hewing themfelves quiet and
fetisfied, this miflion was by no means to be
forfakc n ; and father Piccolo being to go to
New Spain, Salva-Ticrra invefled father U-
garce with the miflion. Accordingly he fet out
with fome foldicrs, but his fortitude was foon put
to the trial. The Indians either from difaffeftion,
or for fear of the foldiers, fled up the country, fo
that for feveral days not one of them was to be
feen. The foldiers became very troublefome to
the father, becaufe they had no Indians to wait
upon them, nor would he allow that they fhould
go in fearch of them, left they fliould do them
fome injury, that at length wearied with their
infolences, he determined to difcharge them and
remain alone among favages, and half recon-
ciled enemies, committing the whole to provi-
dence. Thus he fpent the day ; and at the
clofe of the night a boy came as a fpy to the
door of the college ; the father received and
kindly entertained him, fo that he returned to
his countrymen with a meflage defiring that
they would come, the foldiers being all gone.
The Indians followed one another, that after
an aftonilhing patience and fuiferings, he had
the pleafure of feeing all his fiock together-:
and
I
3i6 HISTORYOF
and now he began to lay a more folid founda-
tion for that mifllon. But he undertook two
defigns both equally difficult. The firft to
teach and inftruc^ the Indians, mildly gaining
them to be prefent every day at the mafs, the
rofary, and the catechifing •, and alienating
them from their forcerers, or deceitful priefts.
The fecond was to accuftom them to till the
land, and take care of the cattle ; to civilize
favages ufed to perpetual lloth, and feeking
their food among the woods. The ftability
and. continuance of his new miflion depended
principally on procuring a fubfiftence for him-
felf and his Indians, without depending on
the uncertain fuccours from the coaft of New
Spain : and this provifion was of equal ne-
ceffity to the garrifon of Loretto, which was
every day in danger of being deftroyed by fa-
mine ; not only their cloaths and other necef-
faries, but even the very daily food being
brought tiiither from the oppofite coaft, acrofs
a fea frequently very boifterous, and in a bark
and boat, both in a very crazy condition. Lo-
retto had fo very little ground for fowing, that
the only improvement made there was a garden
of fruit trees and pot herbs j but the produce
was fcarce any thing for fuch a number: father
Ugarte therefore, who had land fufficient and
of a good kind, took upon him to infure the
common
CALIFORNIA. 317
common relief, at lead, for the moft urgent
neceffity, exclufive of the maintenance of his
Indians. The fatigues of body and mind,
which it muft coft him, among fuch a fickle,
brutifh fet of mortals, are hardly conceivable,
although too common in the fettlement of every
new mifTion.
We fhall however mention a few particu-
lars, from which fome idea may be formed of
the care and labour which attend thefe noble
cnterprizes.
In the morning after faying mafs, and at
which he obliged them to attend with order
and refped, he gave a breakfaft of pozoli
to thofe who were to work, fet them a-
bout ^building the church and houfes for
himfelf and his Indians, clearing the ground
for cultivation, making trenches for the con-
veyance of water, holes for planting trees, or
digging and preparing the ground for fowing.
In the building part father Ugarte was mafler,
overfeer, carpenter, bricklayer, and labourer.
For the Indians, though animated by his ex-
ample, could neither by gifts or kind Ipeeches,
be prevailed upon to fhake off their innate
floth i and were fure to flacken if they did not
fee the father work harder than any of them :
fo that he was the firfl: in fetching ftones, tread-
ing the clay, mixing the fand, cutting, car-
3i8 HISTORY OF
rying and barking the timber; removing the
earthi and fixing materials. He was equal-
ly laborious in the other talks, fometimes fel-
ling trees with his ax, fometimes with his
fpade in his hand digging up the earth, fome-
times with an iron crow fplitting rocks, fome-
times difpofing the water trenches, fometimea
leading the beaits 2nd cattle w'tiich he had pro-
cured for his miffion to pallure and water :
thus by his own example, teaching the feveral
kinds of labour. The Indians whofe narrow ideas
and dullnefs could not at firft enter into the
utility of thefe fatigues, which at the fame time
deprived them of their cuftomary freedom of
roving among the forefls. On a thoufand occa-
fions they fufficiently tried his patience, coming
late, not caring to ftir, running away, jeering
him, and fometimes even forming combinations,
and threatening death and deftruftion : all this
was to be borne with unwearied patience,
having no other recourfe than affability and
kindnefs, fometimes intermixed with gravity
to ftrike refped ; alfo taking care not to tire
them, and fuit himfelf to their weaknefs.
In the evening the father led them a fecond
time to their devotions ; in which the rofary
was prayed over, and the catechifm explained j
and the fervice was followed by the diftribution
of fome provifions. At firft they were very
troublefome
CALIFORNIA. 319
troublefome all the time of the fermon, jeft-
ing and fnecring at what he faid. This the fa-
ther bore with for a while, and then proceeded to
reprove them : but finding they were not to be
kept in order, he made a very dangerous ex-
periment of what could be done by fear. Near
him flood an Indian in high reputation for
ftrength •, and who prefuming on this advan-
tage, the only quality efteemed among them,
took upon himfelf to be more rude than the
others. Father Ugarte who was a large man,
and of uncommon flrength, obfervipg the In-
dian to be in the height of his laughter, and
making figns of mockery to the others, feized
him by the hair and lifting him up, fwang him
to and fro : at this the reft ran away in the
utmoft terror : they foon returned one after
another, and the father fo far fucceeded to in-
timate them, that they behaved more regularly
for the future. But he being informed that
their unfeafonable mirth was owing to the mif-
takes he committed in the words and pronun-
ciation, he applied himfelf to improve in both
by means of boys, having experienced that the
men, befides their obftinacy impofed upon
him, in order afterwards to laugh at him.
However the work from the ftupidity and floth
of thefe unhappy creatures, went on very flow-
ly. But every difficulty is furmountable by
the
520 H I S T O R Y O F |
the labour and perfeverance of an affiduous and
refolute man, who toils for the glory of his
maker.
In the fucceeding years father Ugarte faw the
happy fruits of hiS patience, having not only
brought the Indians to the knowledge of the
chriftian dodrine, and a decent attendance at
divine worihip, but likewife to a fuitable life
without any of the diforders of their favage
ilate. He inured their indocile floth to labour,
and he had plentiful harvefts of wheat, maize,
and other grains : he may be faid to have fur-
mounted Impoffibilities, in watering and culti-
vating craggy and rugged grounds. He even
made a confiderable quantity of generous wine ;
of which, after fupplying the milTions in Califor-
nia, fome was fent New Spain in exchange for
other goods. He likewife bred horfes and
Iheepj and was indeed, the purveyor general
Q^ the garrifons and miffions, who without
the afliilance of father Ugarte's fortitude and
induflry, could not have fubfifted : but no
difficulty deterred him ; and at laft he brought
his labours to the intended iflue, and under a
long courfe of obflrudions and impediments,
he faw his wilhes happily accompliflied.
In the year 1707, all New Spain fufFered ex-
tremely for want of rain : Cinaloa and Sonora
were likewife reduced to great di/lrefs j Cali-
fornia
CALIFORNIA. 321
fornia alfo had been without rain. Yet father
Ugarte, writing to don Jofeph de Miranda, oa
the 9th of June, tells him, *' It is now two
months fince feamen and landmen eat here good
bread of our own harvefts, while the poor on
the other coaft, in Cinaloa and Sonora,
are perifhing. Who would have dreamed
of any fuch thing ?"
Thefe harvells, though not fufficient for the
whole year, ferved for leflening the charges,
and for relief in exigencies like this, even after
provifion wasmadeforthefubfiftenceof the Indi-
ans, thegarrifons and the miffions. But at once to
give a full idea of the induftry and zeal of this
religious man, we (hall add what he did in rhe
following years, for cloathing his naked Indians.
His fheep, brought originally from the other
coaft, being fufficiently increafed, that his In-
dians might make the beft ufe of their wooll,
he determined to teach them the method of pre-
paring, fpinning, and weaving it for cloaths.
Accordingly, he himfelf made the diihlts,
fpinning wheels, and looms. Though to for-
ward and improve {o beneficial a fcheme, he
fent to Tepique for one Antonio Moran, a
mafter weaver, and allowed him a falary of
five hundred dollars. Moran ftaid feveral
years in California, till he had fufHciently in-
ftrudted the Indians in their trade and fome
Vol. I. Y other
522 H I S T O R Y O F
other handicrafts. By thefe new manufaftures^
he iavt.d the vail expences of fail cloth and bays,
a m afure both poHtical and pious : and the
only one which, if imitated in Spain and Ame-
rica, for the confumption of its manufaftures
of all kinds, may retrieve its poverty and de-
population, to the infinite advantage of the
ftate ; the misfortunes and difgraces of which,
arife principally from the want of encourage-
ment, and confequently the want, of induflry in
manufactories of goods, in exchange for which,
both worlds are drained to enrich our enemies.
'Thefe advantages, which were the works of
years carried on by the zeal of father Ugarte,
whofe example, where pofllble, has been fol-
lowed by the miffionaries, were the more va-
luable from the (Ireights, famines, and dangers
of the firit years. It was now the end of the
year 1701, and with it ended all the provifions
of the garrifon of Loretto ; and thus father
Piccolo's departure was haftened, both to give
account of the neceflity, and afl-: fupply along
the coaft of New Spain : and likewife that in
Guadalaxara and Mexico, he might be a wit-
nefs of what was feen to make fo very
little imprefiion when fliewn upon paper. It
Vv'as the 26th of December when this father
ismbarked, the fathers Ugarte and Salva-Tierra
.remaining with the people of the garrifon, un-
■? der
CALIFORNIA. 323
der great ftreights, which laded till the 29th
of January 1702, when the boat returned load-
ed with maize, meal, and other provifions.
But this fuppiy did not laft long, for as captain
Rodrigues Lorenzo fays in his journal, *' the
venerable father Salva-Tierra's benevolence in
his donations to the Indians, was fuch, that in
a fhort time" our necefTity returned upon us.'*
In the following fpring and fummer, their want
became very alarming, the fuppiy they expedl-
ed at this feafon having failed, as indeed it de»
pended only on one bark, which took up time
in repairing, bcfides that of coliecling and
loading the provifions, and frequently of ftrug-
gling with bad weather. The allowances had
for fome time been reduced : but at length the
whole flock of provifions was fpent, except
fome flefli fcarce fit for ufe, that now they were
under a necefllty of procuring their food like the
Indians ; looking out along the fliore for what
fifh they could pick up, and ranging along the
mountains for pitahayas and other fruits and
roots ; father Ugarte always being the firfl in
all labours and contrivances for fubfifting the
people.
There is no reading without a fenfible fym-
pathy, the letters of the fathers, when they de-
fcend into particulars, about the famine and
dirtreiTes which they laboured under, and their
Y 2 various
^24 HISTORY OF
various means of preferving their lives. Their
melancholy condition was aggravated by an in-
furredlion of the Indians, proceeding from the
indifcretion of a foldier called Poblano. He
had that year married an Indian woman of the
country, and who had been baptifed : in the
month of June, her mother came to the camp,
and prevailed on her to quit her hiifband, and
go with her to partake of the dances and di-
verfions among the Indians at that time, being
<he gathering of the pitahayas. The daughter
was but too ready to liften to any propofals for
a party of pleafure, and both ftole away in the
night-time unperceived. The foldier, on mifling
his wife, afl<;ed leave of the captain to go in
fearch of her and bring her back. The cap*
tain confented, but limited him to a certain
diftance. The foldier went with a comrade,
and not finding her, returned. But his love or
refentment was fuch, that within a few days he
went with a Californian Indian, to a rancheria,
where he heard a great deal of fhouting and
noify merriment. An old Indian whom he
happened to meet, being informed of the mo-
tive of his coming, advifed him by all means
to 2:0 back, as otherwife his life would be in
great danger. The foldier blinded by pafTion,
infulced the Indian, which he could not bear,
fo that the foklier Ihot him dead on the fpot.
At
J
CALIFORNIA. 325
At the noife of the miifket, the Indians came
mnning up from the rancherla, and immediately
killed the foldier with their arrows. Nor did
his companion, the Californian, efcape with-
out a wound, but returned to give an account
of the affair at the camp. On this, the captain
fent notice to the fathers who were at Londo,
that they might retire to Loretto. He ordered
three foldiers who were at Santa Rofalia, the
vifitation village of San Xavier de Vigge, to be
upon their guard ; and he himfelf marched
with a part in queft of the Indians, v/hilft thefe,
knowing the weaknefs of the garrifon, had fpi-
rited up almoft every rancheria, to join in a ge-
neral infurredlion. In this expedition our men
fufFered extremely, from hunger and a fatigue
of marching among mountains, precipices, and
breaches : fome fkirmiflies happened, in which
four or five of the infurgents fell. Father Ugarte
had fowed fome maize, and the firft harveft of
it was very foon expeded j but the Indians fell
on it and quite deftroyed it, and would have
done the fame with the chapel and houfe, if
they had not found them guarded by fome foldiers
and Indians. But their cruelty farther difchar-
ged itfelf on a few goats, the milk of which,
was the fathers chief fupport in their extremity.
The numbers and violence of the natives was
)daily increafing, and diftrefs and confternation
y 3 among
326 HIS T O R Y O F
among our men -, v>hen happily the bark arrived
withafupplyofproviiions andafewfoldiers. This
contributed by degrees to appeafe the diftur-
bances, and the revolted Indians by the media-
tion of friends were reconciled, and tranquihty
feemed again to take place.
Among the difagreeable circumftances of
California, it was not the leaft, that no account
had been received of father Piccolo, who, as
we have faid, had gone to New Spain. This
father, after taking meafures in Cinaloa, for
the fpeedy fuccour of his collegues in the milTion,
went to Guadalaxara, where he had an account
of the three favourable fchedules abovemen-
tioned •, by which king Philip V. ordered an
affignment of fix thoufand crowns for that con-
queft, requiring an account of its condition
and progrefs. The royal audience of Guada-
laxara, direded him purfuant to thefe orders,
to lay an account before them of the whole,
which the father did in a writing dated the loth
of February 1702, and which was foon after-
wards printed at Mexico. To this as added the
depcfition of three witnefles, vv'ho had been in
California. Having concluded thefe and
other affairs, he fet out for Mexico in the be-
ginning of March, three months before the
royal fchcdule had come to hand j and father
Alexandro Romano, had adually pref^nted a
meniorial
CALIFORNIA. 327
memorial to the governor, rcquefting the pay-
ment of fix thoLifand dollars, fctting forth, at
the fame time, the extreme necefTity and dan-
ger both of the garrifon and the fathers j but
without obtaining any anfvver. On the arrival
of father Piccolo, a memorial was prefcnted ;
and this was fent to the treafurcr. But thouf^h
D
he confirmed the whole truth of the requf^ft,
only three thoufand dollars were ord-rcd to be
advanced : and when he brough.t this order to the
cafhier's office, he was told that it could not
be paid, as by an order from Spain, of 1696,
no payment was to be made, without fpecifying
the branch of the revenue, out of which it was
to be taken. This the fathers complained of,
ashismajefly's intention was fo clearly cxprefTed.
The treafurer flood their friend, and in an af-
fembly of the 29th of April, after all their
witnefifes and papers were examined, an order
was given to pay them the fix thoufand dollars.
But their other petition for a veird, fix foldiers
and three miflionaries, was put off", till an ac-
count was fcnt to his majefly, together with
the memorial and other waitings relating to Ca-
lifornia.
Father Piccolo had received the fum of money
appointed for the pay oi the garrifon, and with
the benevolences he could coUrd, he pur-
chafed the goods defired m tiie memorials, anu
Y 4 B^>t:
328 HISTORY OF
got ready a relief for the mofl: urgent necefTitics :
none was fo great as that of the minionaries,
which touched the heart of don Jofeph de la
Puente, marquis de V'illa Puente, a nobleman
whofe amazing charity mufi: for ever endear his
memory to all mankind : Europe, America,
and Afia, had felt the happy effecis of his dif-
fufive benevolence : and now he offered imme-
diately to fupport three millions^ anddon Nicolas
de Arteagi and his lady, had offered to found
another.
The funds being thus fecured for the main-
tenance of four milnons, father Piccolo waited
on the provincial Francifco de Arteaga, defiring
that he would appoint them : but the paucity
of proper fubjed:s, the number of priefts in that
province feldom exceeding three hundred, and
the necelTity of providing for the multitude of
colleges and mifTions, through the immenfe
continent of S. America, would not admit of
nominating more than two, who were father
Juan Manuel de BalTaldua, a native of Mecho»
acan, and father Geronimo Minutili a Sardinian ;
a veflfel was purchafed at Acapulco, called
Nueftra Senora del Rofario, and being rigged
and part of her cargo taken in, father Minutili
brought her to Matanchel inNewGalicia, where
the fathers embarked with all the neceflaries
that were wanting. They had a pleafant
voyage
CALIFORNIA. 329
voyage as far as the gulf, but there they were
overtaken by a violent temped, that they were
obliged to throw over- board all the part of
their cargo which was upon the deck. But
at laft the fury of the wind ceafed, the fea gra-
dually grew calm, and they came into the bay
of Loretto on Saturday the 28th of Oftober,
where afolemn thankfgiving was performed.
The joy of the few which remained in the
garrifon, the others having been difcharged,
through an inability of continuing their pay,
may be conceived from the diftrefies they had
undergone, all crowding about father Piccolo
with warm effufions of thanks for his expedition.
And now father Juan Maria, with this frefli
reinforcement of handicraftfmen, and the fecu-
rity of the royal fund, though but fcanty for
the garrifon, conceived higher defigns; and that
they might be executed in the bed manner,
and with difpatch, he conferred with all the fathers
on the propereft meafu res. By them it was refol ved
that father Ugarte fhould go over to the con-
tinent to procure cattle, in order for breeding,
and horfes and mules for tillage, the fervice of
the miflions, and for progrefles up the country ;
that father Minutili Ihould flay in Loretto with
father Salva-Tierra -, and that father BafTaldua
ihould go to San Xavier with father Picco-
lo, to learn the language, aflift him and ac-
cuftoni
330 H I S T O R Y O F
cuftom himfeJf to the fundions. Though
father Upjarte failed in the beginning
of November, the N. W. wind, after being
fome days at fea, obHged him to put back.
But fetting fail a fecond time, in December, he
happily arrived at San Jofeph de Guaymas,
on the coaft of Pimeria, whence, in February
1703, he returned to California, with a good
quantity of black catlle, fheep, horfes, mules,
and provifions. Father Salva-Tierra had not
negle6led in the mean time, to make fome pro-
grelTes, but of no great extent, by reafon of
his attendants travelling on foot, and the coun-
try being rocky and craggy ; with this new
reinforcement, he carried his attempts farther,
and on the firft of March of the fame year 1 703^
he fet out to take a furvey of the oppofite wef-
tern coaft along the South fea. Being attended
by the captain, fome foidiers, and Californians,
he took his way by the mifTion of San Xavier
de Vigge, and the town of Santa Rofalia :
inthe latter he was joined by the fathers Piccolo
and BalTaldua. They reached the oppofite coaft
without finding any Indians, and travelled over
part of it, both towards the South and North,
without meeting fo much as one proper harbour
or creek for ftielter : and though fome of the
grounds promifed pretty well for tillage, they
were quite deftitute pf water, and on the other
hand.
CALIFORNIA. 331
hand, no reliance can be had on the rains in a
country, where, by experience, thf^y are known
to be extremely irregular and uncertain. They
travelled on fouthward to the little river San
Xavier, which ifTues into the fea through fome
creeks, which abounds in fifh of the teflaceous
and other kinds. Here they faw at a diftance,
fome Indian men and women, who immediately
betook themfelves to flight. But fome Califor-
nians who were fent after them, removed their
fears. In their return, they pafled by two ran-
cherias, whom they encouraged to come nearer
to San Xavier de Vigge, and without meeting
any traft fit for a fettlement, on account of the
want of water, they foon after came toLoretto.
The fecond journey was in May, and towards
the north, in order to take a view of a certain
river beyond the bay of Conception, which they
did not queflion but that it v/ould prove very
convenient for fettling a mifllon on its banks.
When they were near the bay, which is forty
leagues from Loretto, they came to a large
rancheria of Indians, who at fight of them made
ready their arrows ; but father Ugarte advan-
cing with the Californians, who were his guides
and interpreters, they received him very cour-
teoufly. Thefe Indians informed them, that
it was flill a long way from Conception to the
river, and full of craggs and abyfles , fo that it
was
532 HISTORYOF
was thought improper to undertake fuch a
laborious taflc at that time : and this difcovery
was deferred to be performed by fea, at a more
favourable opportunity.
But a difmal cloud foon overfpread part
of Cahfornia : fome Indians arriving in
a fright from the miffion of San Xavier with
advice, that the malecontents of their rancheria,
at the inftigation of the wretch who had headed
the laft confpiracy, had formed themfelves into
a. body with other rancherias, and in one night's
time, had maffacred all the adult catechumens,
except thofe who found means to efcape
to the garrifon. This was received with all
tiie concern the cafe required, and it was
unanimoufly refolved, that it was abfolutely
necefiary to make an example of thefe barba-
rians, who were known chiefly to confiftof the
murderers of the foldier Poblano, and whom
the connivance at that adion, had fpirited up
to farther outrages, no longer to be fuffered.
The captain, with the foldiers, and a party of
Indians, furprifed the rebels at midnight, but
very few flood their ground ; fo only very
few were killed, but, among them, one
who was very adtive in the maflacre. The
leader of the confpiracy, who had been in
moft of the difturbances, efcaped ; and it would
not have been prudent for our men to have
ventured
CALIFORNIA. 333
ventured themfelves in an unknown rocky
country, in purfuit of him : but the captain
determined to check the feditious, and accordingly
with an air of great refentment, threatened all
the Indians, who being countrymen of the
flaughtered catechumens, had remained at San
Xavier, or immediately repaired thither, that
he would purfue them without pity, till they
delivered up the leader of the rebellion dead or
alive ; accordingly within a few days he was
brought alive. The captain formally tried
him on the depofitions of his countrymen,
which indeed were all confirmed by his own
confeflion. It was difcovered that he had feveral
times intended to cut ofFthe fathers and foldiers ;
and that, failing in this defign, he had once
'turned his rage againft the chapel and images,
and laftly in fuch a barbarous manner againft the
catechumens. He appeared alfo to have had
the chief hand in the killing of Poblano, and
to have put the Indian women upon marrying
with Spaniards, in order to bring about more
difafters of the like nature : laftly, that from
the beginning, he had been the leading incen-
diary in moft of the revolts, and confequently
deferved death •, accordingly the captain pro-
nounced his fentence, but before proceeding to
execution, he advifed the fathers at Loretto of
it. Father Piccolo came immediately, and was
for
S34- HISTORY OF
for "letting him at liberty, but could not prevail.
Soon after came likewife father Salva-Tierra,
who propofed that he fhould be baniflied for
ever to the other fide of California, but the cap-
tain remained inflexible in his opinion, that it
was abfolutely necelTary to make a publick ex-
ample of him ; and all that could be obtained,
was a refpite for catechifing'him in order to bap-
tifm. This was done to the great fatisfadion
of the criminal, who was of more lively parts
than the reft of his countrymen, and had alrea-
dy a fufficient knowledge of our holy myfteries.
Being baptifed, he became another man, and
defired death, as what he had well deferved,
and forewarned his countrymen againft the
like crimes. In his laft hours he was afllfted by
father BafTaldua, the fathers Piccolo and Salva-
Tierra, from the tendernefs of their difpofiti-
on, being withdrawn to Loretto. The Indians
every where being fo humbled by this feafonable
feverity, that for a long time not the leaft dii-
turbance appeared among them.
The profound tranquility of the Indians was
an opportunity for the eftablifhment of new
milTions, which was not to be overlooked.
Two were immediately wanting, one fouth of
Loretto, on, the coaft of Ligui or Malabat,
which was faid to be a very convenient fpot,
and the other northward, by the fide of the*
river.
CALIFORNIA. 335
river, which, in May, father Ugarte had made
a fruitlefs fearch after by land. But a certain
account of it was brought by the bark, which
contrary winds had driven there, in one of her
voyages to Yaqui. In order to take a par-
ticular furvey of it, the fathers Piccolo and
Baffaldua, with the captain and fome foldiers
went thither the latter end of Auguft in the gar-
rifon's bark. They fleered northward up the
gulf, and a little beyond Conception bay, found
the mouth of the river, which, in the country
tongue was called Mulege, behind cape de
los Virglnes ; having landed, they went up the
country about a league, by the river fide, to
the fpot where afterwards was founded the mif-
fion of Santa Rofalia : here, in order to a far-
ther view of the country, as being very rugged and,
mountainous, beaits were necefTary, and they
all re-embarked, and went over to the oppofite
coaft, in order to bring them. Father Andres
de Cervantes, miflionary of Yaqui, immedi-
ately furnifhed them with beafts, and father
Piccolo remaining with two feculars, to colled:
contributions in the mifTions of Sonora, for
that under him then in its infancy in California,
father Baffaldua returned with the reft to the
river Mulege. Here they underwent great fa-
tigues in furveying the country, in order to find
a way along the mountains, lying betwixt the
N.
33^ HISTORYOF
N. and N. W. of Loretto. This was a fcrvlce
abfolutely neceflary to the foundation of the
miflion, for fuch a communication by land was
of indifpenfible necefllty towards the fettlement
of a miflion ; but after all their endeavours,
the country was found impenetrable, and they
were a fecond time obliged to re- embark, and
went to Conception bay, which lies but two
leagues from the river Mulege. Here having fent
the bark to Guaymas, they went by the v/ay
which had been difcovered, and partly cleared
the preceding May to San Juan de Londo,
now the vifitation town, where the venerable
father Salva-Tierra was, and immediately from
thence to Loretto, whither they were called by
by the following misfortune.
Purfuant to the prudent orders of the vice-
roy, for putting a flop to the violences com-
mrtted in the pearl fifhery, which had been one
of the main impediments to the converfion of
the Californians, none were to go from the coaft
of New Spain, either to fifh or trade for pearls
without licence from the government ; and be-
fore putting it in practice, to fhow it to the cap-
tain of the new garrifon of Loretto: however, two
veflels had prefumed without any fuch licence, to
filh for pearls betwixt the idands. But a ftorm, in
which the garrifon's bark, in going from Con-
ception to Guaymas, was very near being lofl,
drove
CALIFORNIA. 337
drove thefe two fmuggling vefTels afhorc in San
Dionyfio bay •, the crew, which were near
feventy in number, having with great difficulty
faved themfelves, immediately made towards the
garrifon for afTiftance. Soon after fourteen
other men were feen in boats, the unhappy re-
mains of another veflel loft by the fame ftorm.
Thefe unhappy people could not be denied
cloathing and food, though the refitting of the
two (tranded vefTels took up fome months.
And this a(5t of charity, expended almoft the
whole fupply which father Piccolo had a little
before brought from Yaqui. Towards the
clofe of the year, the fourteen who hadfuffered
Hiipwreck were carried over to the continent,
along with father Minutili, who, as California
by no means agreed v/ith his health, v/as ap-
pointed miffionary of Tibutama in Sonora, as
afTiftant to father Kino,
SECT. VII.
His majefty's gracious orders concerning
the million, its great difficulties and dif-
trefTes in the year 1704, both in Cali-
fornia and Mexico} father Salva-
Tierra appointed provincial of New
Spain.
The whole Californian miffion, was in ex-
treme diftrefs at the beginning of the year 1704,
Vol. I. Z the
33S HISTORY OF
the 7th of this new conqueft ; and which was
very near being the laft. The vefTel called the
Rofario, flood in need of large repairs, which
pould be done only on the other fide, from
whence they were to bring the cafh, and orders
for payment of the foldiers ; and likewife
goods of abfolute neceflity for the miflions
and the fathers. On the 12th of February,
father Baffaldua fet fail in it for Matanchel,
from whence he proceeded to Guadalaxara and
Mexico. Father Piccolo went again in the San
Xavier bark, to Guaymas, the miflion of San
Jofeph there having been annexed to Califor-
nia ; that, being under the fame fuperior and
vifitor, there might be a greater harmony and
the fupplies of provifions and beads, which
California flood in need of, be more ready and
convenient. The adive father Piccolo went
to and fro, bringing alt that he could pofTibly
coiled on the oppofite coafl, for the fupport
of the garrifon ; but it is not to be thought
that he could colled a fuliiciency for fuch a
number of people. A great part of the pro-
vifions was fpoiled, partly by lying in the flore-
houfe and by the damages of the fea j and the
boifleroufnefs of the latter did not always ad-
mit of the tranfportation, efpecially as the bark,
their only vehicle, was in a weak condition.
in
CALIFORNIA. 33^
In the mean time father Baffaldua made him-
felf fure, that, on coming to Mexico, all the
difficulties and ftreights of his beloved Cali-
fornia would foon be at an end : and that the
redudlion and conqueft of it for the king
would be foon accompliflied. But he quickly faw
the delufion of thefe hopes, though in themfelves
not ill grounded. In the preceding year 1703,
the fathers Bernard Roleridigui and Nicholas
de Vera, had gone from Mexico to Madrid and
Rome, as agents of the province of Mexico.
They prefented to the young king, don Philip
V. a memorial and report of the miffion efla-
blilhed in California, its Hate to that time,
the fpiritual and temporal advantages to his do-
minions that might be expelled, if his majefty
would be pleafed effe6tually to encourage the
miflions -, the means and meafures for rendering
fuch encouragement effe^lual, and the damages
which the crown would fuffer from the re-
linquifhment of the enterprife, which had been
begun with a fairer profpe6l of fuccefs than
ever. On the i6th of June, this memorial
was read in the fupreme council of the ladies,
his majefly being prefent in perfon : and before
him the matter was fully difcuiTed, and the
treafurer of the council was directed to report
his opinion, agreeable to the former accounts,
. as thofe fent for from the government of Mex-
Z 2 ic©
340 HISTORY OF
ico were not yet come, and the aJBFair would
not admit of farther delays. On the report of
the treafurer on the 28th of September 1703,
his majefty figned five warrants : the firfl, di-
redled to the viceroy, contained an order, that
for the future the benevolence ufually given to
the mifilonaries of Cinaloa, Sonora, and New
Bifcay, fhould be transferred to the miffionaries
of California ; and that likewife they fhould be
furnilhed with bells, oil, ornaments, and other
things ufually given to new milTions ; that the
viceroy Ihould hold a meeting of military offi-
cers, jefuits, and perfons acquainted with the
country and thofe coafts, in order to fettle,
as far north as poflible, a garrifon, with
thirty foldiers and a commander, to be
nominated by the viceroy, for the defence
of the country, as a fafe receptacle to the Phi-
lippine fhips ; that a veffel of a proper burden
Ihould be purchafed for the tranfportation of the
people, to be manned with eight men and a
mafter ; and likewife for carrying necefTaries to
themifllon; that every year, notwithftanding
the warrants of 1696, there fhould be paid
without any dedu6lion or delay, feven thoufand
dollars out of the treafury of Guadalaxara,
over and above the fix thoufand already aflign-
ed for this fervice. Laftly, his majefly required
an account to be tranfmitted to him of the mif-
iions.
CALIFORNIA. 341
lions, founded by private perfons : alfo that the
pearl fiiliery fhould be again fet on foot, taking
due care to prevent any complaints, by feverely
punifhing every violence, fraud, or riot, and that
for peopling and fecuring the conqueft, endea-
vours fhould be ufed for fending poor families
thither from New Spain. The other four
fchedules were gratulatory ; that to don Jofeph
de Miranda Villizan, the treafurer of Guada-
laxara, and the father provincial of the fociety,
for their zeal ; and thofe to don Juan Cavalero
y Ocio, and the congregation of Los Dolores,
for the foundation of three miflions, by their
charitable donations. The fchedules came to
the viceroy's hands on the nth of April 1704,
and being referred to the treafurer, he made his
report on the 18th of the fame month, that
the contents of them ought entirely and abfo-
lutely to be fulfilled. Now father BalTaldua
was in the height of joy, and thinking that at
length the time was come, when he fhould fee
his milTion fettled on a fure foundation, and his
profperity daily increafing, he poured out his
fervent thanks to God. But fo far from it,
that the viceroy referred the fchedule, and the
treafurer's anfwer to a general affembly, at
which were to alTift, father Piccolo, who was
faid to be at Acapulco, when he was at Guaymas
the leafl frequented harbour in the gulf of Ca-
Z 3 liforniaj
342 HISTORYOF
lifornia, as likewife father Salva-Tierra, who
was alfo in California. To the latter, the fa-
ther vifitor Manuel Peneyro fent letters, fum-
moning him to Mexico ; but in the mean
time, the new royal warrant remained without
any effect, notwithftanding the zeal and ilrength
with which his m3Jefl:y, from his care for re-
ligion, had exprefled his royal intentions. Fa-
ther Baflaldua defired that at leaft the fix
thcufand dollars, ordered by the warrant of
1701, for the garrifon might be paid; but
this alfo was denied him, on the plea of the
great damage the fleet had fuftained from the
enemy, in Vigo harbour in Galicia -, and that
it was neceiTary to employ what money was in
the treafury, on aifairs of greater importance.
But the true caufe of this refulal of fuccours
for California, both at that time and fince, and
of the various means, by which the ftri<5left
orders of the king were eluded, was (omitting
thofe before obferved) the zeal of his majefty*s
minifters, for fending to Spain, as much fpecie
as they well could, it being ajunfture, in which
indeed his majefty flood in need of lall poflible
fuccours, a great part of Europe being leagued
together to deprive him of his crown ; and if
the royal revenue was laid out on new falaries,
veflfels, conquefts, miffionaries, and garrifons,
there would be but a fmall furplus to remit to
Spain*
CALIFORNIA; 343
Spain. On this very account, the more admi-
rable was the magnanimity and devotion of that
incomparable prince, Philip V. who, rifing a-
bove all the troubles and dangers in which, at
that time, not only his dominions, but even
his perfon were expofed, never ceafed fending
the mo/l explicit and peremptory orders, for
the profecution of thefe apoftolical and ufeful
enterprifes. The difafter of the fleet at Vigo
afFefted the far greateft part of the New Spain
benefadtors to the mifTion of California; the
confequence of which was, that father Baf-
faldua, could colled but a fmall lliare among
them, for the relief of his milTion : That he
could only refit his bark, and buy up a few ne-
ceflTaries ; and with thefe, accompanied by fa-
ther Pedro Ugarte, who procured himfelf to
be nominated to fucceed father Minutili in Ca-
lifornia, as his brother John had done, he
put to fea, and at the end of June, came to
San Dionyfio bay, though with little comfort,
either to himfelf or the garrifon of Loretto.
The fathers and foldiers in California, were
now in great ftreights, and towards the end of
fummer, their necefllty became extreme : both
the larger and fmaller veflel, bound to the conti-
nent for provifions, having, by the hard gales
at N. W. being twice obliged to put back
empty. The men of the garrifon, who, with
Z 4 the
344 H I S T O R Y O F
the feamen and Indians of New Spain, amount-
ed to fixty perfons, could not conceal their
difcontent, which was, that the bills they had peti-
tioned for at Mexico, on account of their pay,
were not arrived : and it was known that the
love and refpeft which they bore to the fathers,
whom they faw in no lefs diftrefs than them-
feives, was the only confideration which
reftrained them from entirely quitting the gar-
rifon. The want of every necellary of life, at
laft, increafed to fuch a degree, that father
Juan Maria thought it necefiary to call toge-
ther all the fathers and the captain, to delibe-
rate whether the mifiion fhould be forfaken or
not. The venerable father himfelf, was indeed
determined to remain among his Californians, if
by himfelf; and this difpofition he had made
known to the treafurer Miranda, on the 8th of
February of the fame year, " I, for my part,
will remain here, without a fingle foldier,
whatever rifk may be in it ; and, I believe,
father Ugarte is of the fame mind." They were
the only two who remained there, the fathers Pic-
colo and Bafialdua being abfent. Rut it was not
reafonable that this extremity fhould be ob-
truded upon the others, who, if they were dif-
pofed to facrifice themfelves, were not to be
deprived of the merit and glory of a free op-
tion, nor v/as it prudent, purely out of zeal
and
CALIFORNIA. 345
and firmnefs, to expofe fuch a number of per-
fons to perilh, nor to load one's felf with the
odium of the lofs of all, if fuch a thing happen-
ed. It was abfolutely proper to appeafe the
difcontents of the garrifon, which were as
juft as they were irremediable. All the fathers,
the captain, and another officer of the garrifon
being met, the venerable father Juan Maria
addrefled them to the following purpofe ; that
there was no need of reprefenting to them the
prefent melancholy fituation of affairs, as
they unhappily faw it and felt it : that however
they could not impute it to any want of diligence
in him, having been eye-witnefles of his atten-
tion and labour, that they alfo were not igno-
rant of father Baflaldua's ill fuccefs at Mexico,
and that at prefent no fpeedy fuccour was to be
expefted from that quarter ; that this garrifon
andmiffion deferved, in a particular manner, his
majefty's munificence, and had already informed
them of the royal fchedules paffed in September
of the preceding year : that he was fummoned
to Mexico, to confer concerning the execution
of them ; but that he would not ftir out of Ca-
lifornia, till his miflion was either relieved or
broke up : that as the execution of thefe fche-
dules was retarded, and the neceffity grew every
day more preffing, without hopes of relief, and
the conqueft being continually expofed to the
fame
34^ HISTORY OF
fame flu6buations, he defired thaL they would
freely and unrefervedly determine, whether
they (hould, together with the CaHFornians who
were wilHng to follow them, all withdraw in-
the greater and lefTer vefTel, to the coaftof New
Spain, and there wait a more favourable junfture
of returning to the conquefl and reduction of
California, under the powerful affiftancc of the
king. Father Piccolo, as founder, that he
might not, by his vote, hinder thofe of the reft,
ipoke with an entire indifference on the alter-
native. But father Ugarte refolutely oppofed
their quitting the country, moving that all
the people who were defirous of going, ihould
be difcharged with certificates for their pay ;
that as to the reft, he engaged to provide wild
food for the Indians, till provifions came from
the other lide of the fea ; and that as for him-
felf, he could be perfeftly content with the pi-
tahayas, fruits, and roots, which his Californi-
an friends eat. He was feconded by the fathers
Pedro Ugarte, Bafialdua, and Piccolo, to the
great joy of father Salva-Tierra. The captain
and the others, who had been fent for from the
garrifon, alarmed at fuch a propofal, went fo
far as to fay, that they would folemnly proteft
againft the fathers, if the country was quitted.
Neverthelefs, notice was given to the people,
that whoever would, might embark in the two
vefTels
CALIFORNIA. 347
veflels which were going to the continent of
New Spain, and bills fhould be given them
for the payment of their arrears : but one and
all in the camp, Inftead of embracing the offer,
cried out that they would live night and day
with the fathers, rather than leave them. In
the mean time came on fome fair weather, and
the bark went with father Piccolo to Guaymas,
and the veflel to the river Yaqui, with letters
for the miffionaries. Father Juan Ugartc
fometimes by himfelf, fometimes accompanied
by foldiers and convert Indians, went about
among the woods and eminences, gathering fruits
and diggingup roots, which were brought toLo-
retto. The like wasdoneby the IndiansofSanXa-
vier and San Juan de Londo, as a proof of their
fidelity, , and their readinefs to defend them,
and revenge their murderers. Thus all con-
curred in an heroick patience, quietly to bear
the fad extremity to which they were now re-
duced. In the midft of it, father Salva-Tierra
in whofe mind the chief concern always pre-
dominated, went to take a view of the traft of
Ligui or Malibat, fouth of Loretto, where,
as we have faid, it was propofed to found ano-
ther miflion, as that intended on the river
Mulege on the north fide was imprafticable,
on account of the difficulty of the way. It
was the J 2th of July when he came to the
fpot.
348 HISTORYOF
fpot, having with him only father Pedro
Ugarte, a foldier, and two Indians as his inter-
preters, the language being fomething different
from that of Loretto : but on advancing to-
wards the rancheria, they were put in no fmall
fear, a great number of Indians fuddenly fal-
lying out of an ambulh, began furioufly to
fhoot their arrows at them, on which the fol-
dier Francifco Xavier Valenzuela, with one
hand drew his fcymeter and brandijfhed it, and
with the other fired off a mufl<;etoon in the
air, only to frighten them, as it molt effedtualiy
did j for the Indians at hearing the loud explofi-
on, threw themfelves on the ground with their
weapons •, and foon after fat down, filent-
]y waiting for their new guefts. The fa-
ther then acquainted them by his interpreters,
that they had no need to be afraid, that they
did not come to do them any harm, but to en-
tertain them and enter into friendlhip with
them. On this they all drew near, and the fa-
ther, who was known to fome, embraced them,
and m.ade little prefents to them all, telling
them that as a fign of peace and friendfhip, he
came to bring them to father Ugarte, who was
juft landed in the country to live with them,
to affift them and take care of them as his chil-
dren, and inflrud them in the way to heaven.
On this they Ihewed themfelves open and friendly,
and
CALIFORNIA. 349
and as a proot of their good difpofitions caufed
their children and wives to appear. They took a
view of the country, and found that it would
fully anfwer for fettling there the head of a
miflion. But as the difficulties they laboured un-
der at that time, would not admit of their be-
ginning a chapel or any other building ; or the
cultivation of the land, all they did was, that
father Ugarte had the pleafure of taking pof-
fefTion of his miffion by the baptifm of forty-
eight children, whom the mothers eafily offer-
ed, and they returned to Loretto to the great
grief of the Indians, to whom, however, they
promifed they would foon return and that fa-
ther Ugarte fhould come with them.
The vefiei and bark returned at the latter end
of Auguft with provifions from the riA'er Ya-
qui San Jofeph de Guaymas, to the great com-
fort of the people of the garrifon : in this year
father Salva-Tierra was inftead of father Piney-
ro appointed vifitor of the mifllons of Cinaloa
and Sonora. But he delayed this vifuation
partly that he might not leave his beloved Ca-
lifoVnia under fuch diftrefs, and partly from
the notice he had received, that he was expeft-
ed at the afiembly, v/hich the king had ordered
to be held at Mexico ; a voyage which he alfo
put off" in regard to the former motive. He
now received frefh letters acquainting him that
the
35© H I S T O R Y O F
the concerns of California, were fufpended till
he fhould come to Mexico : and as he now
could leave his mifTion, provided for fome time,
and with hopes of larger and more regular fup-
plies from the miflions of Sonora andCinaloa, he
determined to embark without delay for Spain.
However he found himfelf again obliged to
defer it till the end of September, both for
celebrating the dedication of the new church of
Loretto, on the day of the nativity of our lady,
an office, which, for the greater folemnity, was
accompanied with the baptifm of feveral adults,
though the ufual time for thefe was at Eafter
and Whitfuntide, according to the ancient
ufage of the church, as verified in the Roman
ritual •, and alfo for giving orders concerning
the miffions, particularly the command of
the garrifon. Some difgufts had happened a-
mong the foldiery, who obliged the worthy
Portuguefe Eftevan Lorenzo to lay down his
commifllon, though he was very well fatisfied
with his poft ; as likewife with the fathers, nor
could all the entreaties of the latter prevail
for his continuance in it. The enfign Ifidro
Grumeque alfo refigned, offering himfelf to ac-
company the father to Mexico, which he did.
Hereupon, for captain-lieutenant, the father
appointed Nicolas Marques, a Sicilian, and the
poft of captain was filled by don Juan Baptifta
5 Efca-
CALIFORNIA. 351
Efcalante, at that time enfign in the garrifon
of Nacofari in Sonora, who had diftinguilhed
himfelf againft the Apaches : but the fupreme
government of the garrifon and miflion, he con-
ferred on father Juan Ugarte, giving him, at
his reiqueftj inftruftions how to a6l on all occa-
fions. Thus having regulated every thing, he
fet out on the firft of Odober from Matanchel
for Guadalaxara ; there he ftaid till the 26th of
the fame month, conferring with the members
of that audience, and efpecially with Sennor
Miranda, now auditor. In the mean time, oa
the 2 1 ft of the fame month, died at Mexico
Manuel Pineyro, father vifitor, and on opening
the fecond letter from Rome, father Juan Ma-
ria de Salva-Tierra was found to be appointed
provincial. He arrived at Mexico in the be-
ginning of November, little thinking of fuch
news ; and endeavoured to be excufed from
fuch a difficult employment ; his heart was en-
tirely taken up with his Californian miflion, and
with great humility and ftrength he laid before
the confiftory of the province his reafons for
accepting it. But he was overcome by the
cuftoms of the fathers, who would not admit of
his plea from a perfuafion, that it was for the
advantage of his own beloved miflion and all
the others, that he fhould be provincial, and
aft as fuch. Hereupon he took on him the
fpi ritual
352 HISTORYOF
fpiritual government of the province; but
without delay wrote to the father, general Thyr-
fo Gonzales, for permilTion to refign his office,
that he might have the pleafure of dying among
his Californians. He obtained from the vice-
roy, with great reputation to himfelf, the Re-
forma, or continuance of their pay to his two
companions, the captain and enfign of the gar-
rifon, and began to take in hand the other af-
fairs of his miflion.
SECT. VIII.
Father Salva - Tierra's farther fervices to
California J his majefty's favours j
obftacles in Mexico againfl: his million ;
he vifits it in the quality of provincial.
The new provincial waited on his excellency
the viceroy, to give him a full account of the
ftate of the miflion of California, and to defire
that he would be pleafed to comply with the
joint orders of his majefly and the fupreme
council of the Indians. In purfuance of which,
had been held the general junto or aflembly of
the 6th of June, though the fathers and others,
acquainted with the country, were not prefent
as had been diredled. The treafurer's report
concerning the immediate payment both of the
old and new affignments for the miffions, vefTels,
and
C A JL I F O R N I A. 355
and garrifon was unanimoufly agreed to : but
the article for the eftabHfhment of a new gat-
rifon on the South-fea coafl, and the number
of foldiers, was put off till the fathers and othef-s
who were acquainted with that country, and the
fea, fliouid be heard. Notwithftanding all this,
no. adlual payment was made, not even of the
former affignment of 6000 dollars, only in a
letter of the 24th of September of the fame
year 1704, his majefty was given to underftand,
that by an a6t of the council, the execution of
his majefly's fchedule of the 28th of Decem-
ber 1703, had been deferred till they had con-
ferred with father Salva-Tierra, who for this
purpofe had been Tent for from California to
confer with about the feveral particulars.
The viceroy with great politenefs and conde-
fcenfion, gave a very long hearing to the new
provincial, and was indeed charmed with hia
apoftolic zeal, humility, fweethefs, rriagnahi-
mity, and likewife with his abilities. He admitted
of the neccflity of complying with the king's
orders,; and the father's requeft. The miniflers
of the royal audience alfo admitted him to a con-
ference, and were equally convinced by his ar-
guments. There was now the moft favourable
conjundure for hokling a meeting of perfons
acquainted with the country j there being then
?ir Mexico the founder of the.fnifllon, the cap-
VoL. I. A a tain
354 HISTORYOF
tain and enfignof thegarrifon, and many others
who had been a voyage to the Philippine
iflands, but no junto or meeting was held -, nor
were there fo much as any hopes given that it
would be held ; fo that the provincial Salva-Tier-
ra, finding obftacles raifed on all fides, fet out on
the vifitation of the college, and did not rrtutn
to Mexico till after Lent 1705. At that time
fome hopes were given for holding the junto,
and he prepared a written memorial relating
to the royal fchedule to be laid before it. On
the 25th of May the father figned it, and, I
fhall infert it here, as it fhews the thoughts of
that worthy man on thefe matters-, as like-
wife the chriftian fimplicity and franknefs, with
which he exprefles himfelf.
May It pleafe your excellency,
T Juan Maria de Salva-Tierra of the fociety of
Jefus, fent for by your excellency, purfuant
to his majefty's fchedule dated the 28th of 06lo-
ber 1703, requiring your excellency to hear the
opinion of the fathers : and in obedience to
tlie fald fchedule and your excellency's order,
I came in little more than a month from Cali-
^ fornia to this city. And on my arrival it was
fignififd to me that father Manuel Penyro was
dead i and by his death I became provindal
" of thi? province of New Spain, and likcwife
milTionarv
CALIFORNIA. 355
miflionary of California. In obedience to his
majefty's fchedule, I take the liberty of repre-
fenting theimpoflibility of fubfifting in Califor-
nia with only one veffel, as for feven years and
a half we have always had three : yet by the
accidents of the fea, the ftranding of them,
.and fometimes their total lofs; the long ftay for
their repairing and careening, for want of flores,
ilipplies, contributions, and officers ; the dif-
tance of harbours and creeks where they might
careen, have frequently fuffered great diftrefles.
For the enterprife is fo new and recent, that as
yet no way more ready and convenient has betja
difcovered.
And it would not have been otherwife, the*
plentifully fupported by money, as in the time
of don Ifidro da Otando, who had the royal
treafury at command ; for of three confiderable
veffels built on purpofe for the Californian fervice,
the bilander never faw California, and all
the refult was a fruitlefs expence to his majefty,
lofs of flores and provifions, befides the charge
of artificers, foldiers, and feamen : and the two
veffels called the Captain and .the Admiral,
were of very little fervice, and the fettlement at
the harbour de la Paz, the very centre of the
Placeres, or pearl banks, was difgracefully for-
faken, tiie Admiral not coming with fup-
plie-i in time. Another wretched piece of mif-
A a 2 QQndu(^
356 HISTORYOF
condud was, the provoking the Gnayeura nation
which lived in the neighbourhood, by the mur-
der of the Indians, who fat round a large kettle
feafting on boiled maize, to which the admiral
had invited them. He afterwards made a fettle-
ment 70 leagues higher up, and was there ten
months without fo much as feeing a fmgle veffel.
Secondly, I reprefent to your excellency the
barrennefs of the country. For from the time
of Ferdinand Cortes and many others, who
have landed there fince during the fpace of
180 years, there has been no pofiibility of peo*
pling it, a certain fign that they met with very
o;reat difficulties : and had not on this occa-
fion the mod holy virgin of Loretto been
the conquerefs and fettler, what has been
done could never have been executed, at
leaft could not have fubfifted. I was not a
novice when I undertook this plan, but grown
old among the labours of New Bifcay, where
it was my happinefs by means of the chear-
ful commerce of the Spaniards, both foldiers
and inhabitants, and my friendOiip with the
Indians, to check the infurretSiions of thofe
people.
1 h'cisfrom my faid knowledgeand experience,
I in the third place lay before your excellency,
the almoll certain danger of lofing this country,
ifinthffe beginnings thefathershavenot the power
of
CALIFORNIA. ZSI
cf appointing or difplacing ti^ie commander of
this Imall body of foldiers. For, I know by
experience, that without this power, I (hould
not have been able to have gone a fingle ijep
up the country of California : and fliould have
fpent mtich more time in the firft place
where we landed. And the commanders,
for fear of being again removed, had, at the
earneft exhortation of the fathers, fupport-
ed by authority, made difcoveries and taken
furveys of the country.
I add, that the pearls are a ftrong allure-
ment ; and had not the fathers by means of that
authority prevented inconveniences, Ibme vio-
lent fpirits would, as was formerly too often the
pra6lice, under feveral pretences, have com-
pelled the Indians, both gentiles and chriftians,
to filh by laying a tax upon them. Of this com-
pulfion, the neceflary confequence would be an
infurredlion ; and thence the lofs of the coun-
try, on account of its ruggednefs, which would
not admit of any horle being employed for the
recovery of it : likewife for the eafe of the
Spanifh foldiers, who, in fo diftant a country
and divided by the fea, owned that they lived
more quietly under the prote(5lion of the fathers
or the fuperior, as he can remove the captain,
and they may promife themfelves that no oppref-
fz^n or hardlhip will be put upon them from
A a 3 their
2s'i H I S T O R Y O F
their quarters : and to fuch oppreflions and
jealoufies this country is very much addidled :
for inflance, an Indian goes and fells a good
pearl to a foldier of his acquaintance, preferably
to the captain, who is fure to look always with
an evil eye on the foldier and the Indian ; and
if the Spanifli fuldler will not let him have it at
his own price, he flies into a pafTion and pro-
ceeds to extremity, as was fecn on many occa-
fions in Otondo's time, who, on feveral occafi-
en?, was near lofing his life by the hands of thef
foldiers and mariners.
The taking away this povv^er from the fathers,
I alfo add, will leflen the charity of his majefty's
fubje(5ls, as contributions will rife or fall with
their confidence of the proper and fuccefs-
ful employment of them : but now they will
have reafon to fear that what they do with one
hand, is undone by another. This likewife will
put a flop to the pcrfonal fuccours both of Spa-
niards and of the Indians of New Bifcay, whp
whether Californians, Indians and Spaniards, at-
one word from the fathers, quit their lands
and corne in barks as happened three years-
ago, when a bark of Cihaloa Spaniards camQ;
to our afllfliance -, and the warriors among the
mofl: faithful nation of the Yaqui did th^
fame coming over in a vefiel, all very well-
armed, and landed at Loretto in California,
"Whereas
CALIFORNIA. .^59
Whereas tliis changeofpo\ver would dlfcourage
both the Indians and Spaniards, as they
could not truft to the proteftion and paternal
love of the fathers j and would be one of
the greatefl detriments which could befall this^
new conqueil, it being well known that don
Ifidro de Otondo, the admiral of California,'-
captain of the garrifon of Cinaloa, and gover-^
nor of that province, with all his authority and
repeated orders from the viceroy, could not
raife a fingle Indian volunteer in Cinaloa and
Sonora. And the few lie preferred on account"
of their ciimes, continued to a(5t agreeably to
their charader, and caufed the firft infurredlion
after their entrance. And I affirm that all the
faid motives aim only at the prefervation of
the country, and the lading eftablifhment of
chriftianity in it.
I likewife think proper to reprefent to your
excellency, that the money expended in this
enterprife till this day, amounts to twelve
hundred and twenty-five thoufand dollars, ex-
clufive of the foundation of fix miffions, which
amount to fifty- eight thoufand dollars •, and of
thefe fums the treafury, during fo many years
to the prefent time, has paid only eighteen
thoufand dollars, and the whole large remainder
has been procured by the cares and great la-
bpurs of the fathers of the fociety. From all
A a 4 which
36o H I S T O R Y O F
which accrues a gn-at fervice to his majefly^
and faving to his treafury. Apdit was in regard
to this fervice, that I rcquefted of his majefty
a party of twenty- five foldiers with a com-
ynander, purely for the good of the country :
A requefl. which I do not think equal to the
magnanimous difpofition of our king.
I forbear anirnadverting on the refolution
taken by the royal council in 1685, relating to
the abandoning of California, after a large
and fruitlefs expence. This council fummoned
the father provincial of the fociety : and in
his abfence the vice-provincial father Daniel
Angelo Marras ; and to him it was propofed,
and his compliance at the fame time ftrongly
folicited, that the reverend fociety would take
upon themfelves the whole enterprife of Cali-
fornia, in confideration of which they Ihould
be annually allowed forty thoufand dollars from
the treafury. Apd the faid father Daniel An-
gelo Marras having called together the confif-
tory of the province, they declined the propq-
fal. It is true, that the father provincial Ber-
nabe de Soto returning from his vifitation, be^
gan to fee that, in refufing the offer, the wel-
fare of the poor |Californians had not been pro-
perly cpnfulted : and that this was the only ex-
pedient remaining to be tried fof planting chri-
ilianity in this kingdom. And fo ftrongly
perfuadet^
CALIFORNIA. 361
perfuaded was this royal council, that to com-
mit the affair to the reverend fathers was the
only probable means of accomplifhing the con-
verfion of the Californians, and the redudlion
of the country, that the petition of captain
Francifco de Lucenilla, laid before them im-
mediately after, and engaging to do the fame
fervice for a much fmaller fum than that offer-
ed to the fathers, was rejected without delibera-
tion.
As the fociety has not fpared itfelf, but at
the exhortation of the moll reverend Thyrfo
Gonzales, father general, has in the perfon of
its fons vifited all the houfes of well dif-
pofed perfons, the officers and tribunals, beg-
ging afliftance towards the reduction of this
kingdom to our holy faith ; it is my opinion
that it ought not to be done feparately
from our fociety. But that with frelh injunc-
tions and recommendations from your excellen-
cy, whilft a report is tranfmitted to his majefty,
the fathers exert themfelves to take care not only
of the fpiritual, but of the temporal concerns,
and the rather as having now the fupport of
the thirteen thoufand dollars which his majefty
again offers ; and which will be a help to
the fathers, but to any fecular perfon what-
ever, would be an incumbrance ; for by the ex-
periej^ce which the conduft of this enterprife
for
3^2 H I S T O R Y O F
for eight years affords me, I fay, that it is im-
pofTible with that fum to aft up to the condi-
tions of the fchedule.
And fliould any one offer to fulfil thofe con-
ditions, and fecure the country with thirteen
thoufand dollars, it muff be from his ignorance,
or. with a defign to defraud the king. He wijl
be. intent only on his own private advantage.
This, will produce a thoufand difputes with
the fathers, who cannot butoppofe any oppref-
iiyns of the foldiers and feamen, and more par-
ticularly of the Indians, whether chriftians or
infidels, who alfo would not fail to rife in arms j
and whilft application is made to court in let-
ters and memorials, even before any anfwers,
however favourable to the Indians, can return,
the flame of rev.olt may fpread every where :
thefe uncultivated people being ftrangers tQ
any other recourfe againft injuftice than their
weapons. The faid commander will for many
years be obliged to buy up beyond fea all kinds
of provifions ; and as they are often vitiated
and maggotty, efpecially the flefh, before their
arrival, the expences amount in effed to thricq,
more than what they do in a fpeculative com-
putation : fo that without a vail charge to the
treafury, it will be impoffible for any man tp,
maintain his ground there.
prom
CALIFORNIA. 363
From the premifes I conclude, that the coun-
try, on account of its barrennefs, will not admit
of Spanifh inhabitants, as not affording fub-
fiftence even for only two fathers ; and at pre-
fcnt no Spaniards are tobe found who are fond
of new fettlements, though in a fertile foil and
good climate, unlefs paid by the government,
or as a mitigation of a punifhment : and then
all they do, is by their irregularities to make
the country revolt and quarrel with thefoldiers,
and thus raife a civil war, as was a few years
ago the cafe in Mexico, betwixt the foldiers
and fettlers.
The laft article is my anfwer to the propofal
concerning the new eftablifhment of agarrifon,
in the oppofite or weftern coafl:, along which
the Philippine Ihips fail, an article proceeding
from the moft catholick breaft of our fovereign,
and his generous pity for fo many of his fub-
je<5ts, who die of the fcurvy, there being in
ibme thoufands of leagues not one place where
they could fend them on fhore ; though frefh
meat and acid herbs would recover far the
greatefl part of them : my anfwer to this, is,
that I: now could die with pleafure, feeing the
exalted concern of his majefty, agrees with
what I have fo many years wifhed for, beino-
pierced to the very heajt at fight of fuch numbers
<)£ fick, and xRultitudes of them dying : and in
ail
3^4 H I S T O R Y O F
all my labours and enterprifcs, I have had this
in view. But at prefent, not to bring new ex-
pences upon the treafury, by any additional al-
lov/ance to the fathers, who have carried their
converfion of the infidels fo far, as already to
approach the wellern coaft: his majefty's defires
may therefore be accompli fiied in a little time,
and without the expence of a new garrifon, only
by caufing the fubfidy of thirteen thoufand
dollars to be paid to the fathers, as by thefe
and the contributions of charitable chriftians,
there is great probability of fuccefs. As to
the fix thoufand dollars towards the charges,
tjiey are not fo much as the third part -, and it is
fcarce to be conceived what labour and trouble
I undergo, to procure contributions for making
vp the reft.
Befides the thirteen thoufand crowns, it was
neceflary for a year or two, to have a bark
from Peru, freighted with provifions, and
well manned with failors, in order to take a
view and draught of the weftern coafts, har-
bours, creeks, and bays ; and I failed in the
bark from 24 to 27 degrees: on this we
made for the eaftern coaft, and landed at
the degree appointed : whlie that on the
weftern coaft, joined in aflifting the ftiip
from China, and to give her notice from thence,
if apy enemies were on the coaft of New Spain.
Thp
CALIFORNIA. 365
The prefent flate of California is, that his
majefty, our fovereign, is poflefled of fifty-
leagues along the coaft, from Conception
bay to Agua Verde, i. e. green water, a lake
fifty leagues up the country, or the mountains
betwixt the two feas j the whole being above one
hundred leagues in circuit •, and in fuch pro-
found peace, that the fathers can go over it
alone, without any guard of foldiers j the na-
tives throughout the whole extent, willingly
conforming themfelves to whatever the fathers
require of them, and obey the orders of the mi-
litary captain : being ready, together with
twelve hundred chriftians, catechumens, and
gentiles, to take arms in our behalf.
Befides the country reduced or conquered,
there are others only difcovered, as three ways
towards the oppofite weftern coaft to its very
fhores, two days journey along the coaft,. by
which the Philippine ftiip comes, have been
furveyed : and though the Indians of the wef-
tern coaft, from a natural f^ar, fled at the
fight of the foldiers, yet they are now civilized,
and they voluntarily come to vifit father Juan
Ugarte, on that chain of mountains, which
runs from fea to fea. California is the refuse
of fuch Spaniards, as by tempefts are driven
out their courfe from the South fea. And two
years ago, feventy perfons, whofe veftels had
^ been
S66 H I S T O R Y O F
been lofl, and who otherwife muft alio perifli,
found fafety here. And in thofe parts of the
country that are conquered and difcovered,
there are very prom ifing appearances of mines.
Thus in obedience to ithe royal fchedule, I have
reprefented to your ejccellency, every thing
within my knowledge ; and in witnefs of it, I
have hereunto fet my name at Mexico, the 25th
of May 1705. Juan Maria de Salva-
Tierra.
On the fame day namely the 25th of Maj^, the
viceroy was pleafed to order that this memorial
fhould be referred to the treafurer ; and after-
wards by his approbation to the general affembly.
There was all. the reafon in the world that this
ihould be now held, father Salva-Tierra, the
perfon beft able to anfwer any difficulties, being
then in Mexico, yet no aflembly was convened :
and- '"under this difappointment of his hopes,
this excellent man went in the middle of June,
in the quality of provincial, to vifit the Califor-
nian miflions, carrying them all the relief he
could coUedl : and with him the Portu-
guefe don Eftevan Lorenzo, now a fecond
time obliged to take upon him the office of cap-
tain of the garrifon. By the way he vifited all
the colleges near which he pafTed. At Guada-
laxara he ftaid till the month of Auguft, in
order, together with the members of the audi-
ence,
CALIFORNIA. 367
cnce, to promote the encouragement of his
miflion ; recommending the vifitation of the
other colleges to father Jofeph Vellido the
fecretary. The father had fcarce left Mexico,
when an aflfembly was held the 27th of June.
The above-mentioned memorial, which father
Salva-Tierra had been ordered to draw up,
was read in it : and it was refolved that in' the
want of experienced perfons, as the royal fche-
dule required, no alteration fhould be made in
the affair : but that what had been refolved in
the junto of the 6th of June, in the foregoing
year, fhould be adhered to ; which was to make
a report to his majefty, and wait his further
orders. It was not till eight months after, that
an account of this refolution was fent to his ma-
jefty, in a letter of the 23d of March 1 706.
Every man of fenfe will be amazed at this
cnndudt; for after fuch clear expreflions of
his majefty, he will hardly think that this
unrelenting harflinefs againft the unhappy Ca-
lifornians, actually proceeded from a defire of
remitting money to Spain : and it is not to be
imagined, that the government could imbibe
the common reports of the vulgar, againft the
great riches and infatiable avajrice of the jefuits,
and the rumours about the rich pearl fiftieries of
California, as they have more authentick infor-
mations. Therefore fome other root of ail this
evil
368 HISTORYOF
evil muft be fearched for, and it was the fol-
lowing : Father Salva-Tierra not only folicited,
as reftor of California, that the appointments
fliould be paid to his mifTions -, but as provin-
cial, he likewife interefted himfelf for the payment
of the penfions afllgned to the miflions of the
jefuits in New Spain. The arrears were now
of fome years flanding, that the miflionaries of
all of them, with their churches and the Indians
belonging to them, were in a moft deplorable
condition. The province had petitioned for a
large fum of money, though but a moderate
relief: and befides the common funds and
thofe of the colleges being greatly encum-
bered, there was no poffibility of procuring
from Europe, proper perfons, books, orna-
ments for churches, apparel, and other necef-
faries for the fupport, however fimple and
mortified, of its members. But the provin-
cial had no better fuccefs in his folicitation for
this than for that of his dear Californians. He
repeated his inftances feveral times, always with
proper humility, but with no greater effeft ;
till at length, feeing that he did not prevail,
and that the miflions in the hands of the com-
pany, under whomthey had grown up, were more
irremediably falling to ruin ; with the advice
of the moft intelligent and ferious jefuits, he
delivered into the hands of the viceroy, a
formal
CALIFORNIA. 3^9
formal renunciation and relinquifliment of all
the mifTions, figned by the oldeft fathers, that
his excellency, as vice-patron, might provide
them with paftors. The viceroy extremely
refented this ftep, which the company would
have been glad to avoid. He ordered
the appointments of that year to be paid, re-
ferring the arrears till another time. But he
retained all the heat of his firft pafTions and
on every occafion, California felt the effeds of it.
During thefe tranfadions at Mexico, the re-
ports of the firft aflembly of the ift of June
1 704, arrived at Madrid, and were taken into
deliberation by the fupreme council of the In-
dies ; and, by its advice, the king fent a new
fchedule, dated Augufl the 15th 1705, in
which his majefty approved of the junto's re-
folution, to wait for father Salva-Tierra's opi-
nion, concerning the new garrifon on the
fouthern coafl. But with regard to the thir-
teen thoufand dollars appointed for the con-
queft and reduction, he again ordered, that
it fhould be paid without any delay, and fpeedy
advice of every thing be fent lo him. This
fchedule was read before the viceroy, on the
20th of June 1706 ; and on its being referred
to the Fifcal, he delivered his opinion, that
father Salva-Tierra, having already given his
report in writing, it Ihould be remitted to his
Vol. I. B b majeflvj
370 HISTORY OF
majefty, with advice that the appointment of
thirteen thoufand dollars had been paid, it being
no longer avoidable, in virtue of the royal or-
der. The fchedule and the treafurer's opinion
were laid before the royal council, which, in
September the 24th of the fame year, after
dwelling on the exhaufted ftate of the revenue,
in the viceroy's prefence, refolved that father
Salva-Tierra*s memorial fhould be fent to his
majefty, as containing feveral articles on which
it was neceffary to know his majefty's royal de-
termination -, and in other refpedts, to abide by
the refolutions of the affembly, on the 27th of
June 1704, of not making any alterations
without frefh orders from his majefty. Father
Salva-Tierra's memorial, had been remitted to
court in May of that year : and now it was
again fent with the viceroy's remarks on fome
points. Thefe proceedings were kept fo fecret,
that nothing tranfpired to the fathers, Vv^ho, in
the mean time, were unable to take any ftep
in favour of their miffion. Thefe papers arrived
in Spain, when it was known, that the South
fca was infefted by many Corfairs, who Ihel-
tered themfelves in California ; and of thefe
Woods Rogers was one as may be ken. in his
voyage begun in 1708, the very year when
this fubjed was deliberated on in Madrid ; and
thefe difpatches having been laid before the
5 fupremc
CALIFORNIA. 371
fiipreme council of the Indies, his miijefty by
their advice, fent over another ichedule, dated
at Buen Retire, the 26th of July 1708, which
contaijied three parts : the firft recapitulated
thofe of the preceding years : the fecond con-
tained obfervations on the articles of father
Salva-Tierra's memorial, and the viceroy's re-
marks : the third again directed the immediate
payment of the thirteen thoufand dollars, and
that the general afTcmbly of all the miniflers,
military officers, and perfons who had a know-
ledge of the coaft and country of California,
Ihould as formerly direfted be immediately
held : and that the viceroy fhould determine
the moft convenient place for erefting on the coaft
of the South fea, the royal garrifon fo long de-
fired : at the fame time impovvering him to
take out of the revenue, whatever money
fhould be neceffary for this fervice, and fend an
account of the whole to his majefty. This
fchedule camx to Mexico in the year 1709,
and being referred to the treafurer, he was of
opinion, that every article ought to be fulfilled:
and the vice;-oy having alfo complied, fignified his
affent in the following order, " Agreeably to the
opinion of the treafurer, it is hereby direfted
that, for the more proper execution of the
royal warrant, relative to paying and alTifting
the Leeward garrifons, his majefty 's new
B b 2 fchedule
372 H I S T O R Y O F
fchedule be taken into deliberation, and the
feveral papers be laid before the council, as to
it belongs the firft confideration of ways and
means for publick affairs, and for the prefent
execution of what his majefly has exprefly
commanded ; and the treafurer, agreeable to
fuch commands, has required, the fecretary's
office lihall make enquiry after, and regifter all
fuch military perfons within this city, who fliall
be found to be acquainted with thofe countries
and feas, that the expedition, may, purfuant to
his majefty's orders, be commenced without
delay."
This decree, fufpended the execution of
the fchedule, relating to the immediate pay-
ment of the thirteen thoufand dollars, it being
referred to the deliberation of the general af-
fembly of the royal council : though by the
king's fchedule, all kinds of deliberation on
this point, had been precluded. However the
viceroy continued in the difcharge of his office,
without taking any notice of California, till
the end of the year 1 7 1 o, when he was fuc-
cceded by the duke dc Linares, don Fernando
de Lancafter Noronna y Sylva, who made his
entry into Mexico on the firft of January
T71 1.
This excellent nobleman, who as fon of don
Auguftine de Lancafter, duke de Abraites,
marquis
CALIFORNIA. sys
marquis de Porto Seguro, and Val de Fuentes,
count de Mejorado, and fon to donna Juana de
Noronna y Sylva, duchefs of Linares, united
in himfelf through various lines, the royal houfes
of Caftile, Portugal, and England ; and who to
his great perfonal qualities, added the expe-
rience he had acquired as vicar of Italy, vice-
roy of Sardinia, and lieutenant general of
the armies of Spain. An affeftion to the je-
fuits was hereditary in this nobleman's family :
and accordingly during the whole courfe of his
government, he zealoufly took the milTions of
CaUfornia under his protedion, bellowed
large fums of his own money, for the advance-
ment of them, and folicited contributions
from other perfons of wealth in Mexico. At
the expiration of his viceroyfhip, in which he
was fucceeded by his coufm don Gafpar de
Zumiga marquis de Valero, being free from
any difeafe, and preparing to return to
Spain, he direfled by his will, fealed on the
26th of March 1717, in the city of Mexico,
the third part of his eftate, which was all
he had the difpofal of, by reafon his father was
ftill alive, for the ufe of the miflions of Ca-
lifornia, in the 17th claufe, which runs thus :
*' I dire(ft that of my eftate, there be given to
the miflions of California, five thoufand doub-
loons, to be at the difpofal of the fathers,
B b 3 whcf
374 H I S T O R Y O F
who jQiall be in the miflions, if I die in this
kingdom : but if in Europe, the faid fum Ihall
be paid to the agent general of the reverend
fociety of jefuits, to be remitted to thefe pro-
vinces/*
As he was on the point of going to Vera
Cruz in order to embark, lie was taken very
ill ; and on the 28th of May in the fame year,
he opened his will to revife it : after which he
fealed it up again. And though by two codi-
cils he altered ibme other particulars, the de-
vout legacy he left to the mifllon of California,
remained untouched j and in thefe happy fenti-
ments he died on the 3d of June, in the fame
year, in the arms of father Francifco de Sol-
chaga, a jefuit, and profefTor of divinity in
that capital. But notwithftanding the excellent
difpofitions of this nobleman as a private per-
fon, he neither did, nor could do any thing for
the mifiion as a viceroy •, the former royal
fchedules were fo clofely fecreted that he knew
nothing of them, and in his time no order
came to court relating to California ; nor did the
fcUhcrs folicit any favour knowing nothing of the
laft fchedules before- mentioned; having been
without the leaft hope of any extraordinary ai-
fiftance from the year 1705 : for even the ordi-
nary pay was greatly behind in all the mif-
fions, that all they could do was by their own
means
CALIFORNIA. 1,-]^
means to forward the conqueft, which how-
ever at this rate, could move but very flowly.
The like happened in Sonora and Pimeria to
father Kino; who, with great concern, faw the
harveft of very extcnfive countries, ripe for
the fickle of the gofpel, loft for want of pro-
per fupplies and labourers. By thefe wants
California necefiarily fuffered, not only on ac-
count of the fuccours which it might hope for
from Pimeria, if once reduced and cultivated ;
and from its coaft along the gulf which had
been difcovered and furveyed as far as the river
Colorado ; but likewife as the capital defign
was to carry on the conqueft on both fides of
the gulf to the above-mentioned river ; and
where the mifiions being joined and recipro-
cally afllfting each other by land, to continue
and extend it as far as the fruitful coaft of
Puerto de Monte-Rey. This enterprife, fo very
important, fathers Salva-Tierra and Kino would
certainly have accomplillied, had they been af-
fifted according to his majefty's order-, but
every thing went againft them. I have been
particular in relating the obftacles they met
with, that it may be ittw whether they who
throw the blame of the little progrefs made in
thefe miflions on the company, have fo much
as a fhadow of reafon on their fide. I have
conneded the events of different years, that I
B b 4 might
3^6 H I S T O R Y O F
might not frequently break the thread of the
narrative. Let us now return to father Salva-
Tierra, whom, in Auguft 1705, we left vifiting
the college of Guadalaxara* The father pro-
vincial had foon concluded the vifitation of that
college, as likewife his conferences with the
members of the audience and others, benefac-
tors to California : and having obtained
for it what fuccours he could, he went to Ma-
tanchel, where he embarked, and on the 30th
of Auguft, after a pleafant paffage, came to an
anchor in San Dionyfio bay, within fight of
his beloved mifllon of Nueftra Sennora de Lo-
retto de la California : he landed to the inex-
prefTiblejoy of himfelf, the fathers, the foldiers,
and even the Indians who looked upon them as
their common father. He found them all in
no very agreeable fituation, notwithftanding the
fuccours which father Piccolo was very affidu-
ous in fending them from Sonora. The pro-
vincial had nominated him vifitor of the mif-
fions of that province, as this employment re-
quired a perfon of his activity and zeal, and
likewife, as by his authority and intereft, he
could moft conveniently draw from thefe mif-
fions, though themfelves but poor, thofe fuc-
cours of provifions which were abfolutely
wanting in Cahfornia. In this father Piccolo
was fo alert that his care and charity may be
faid
CALIFORNIA. 387
faid to have this year faved the mifTion. The
venerable provincial on the fame day, namely,
the 30th of Auguft, informing him of his ar-
rival at Loretto, returned him thanks in the
following manner: " God reward your reverence
for the fuccours you have fent to thefe fathers,
whomotherwife at my coming hither I fhould have
found dead.*' The fufferings of the fathers were
not a little increafed by the cruelty and haughti-
nefs of the captain Efcalante, who as little re-
liflied his fubjedion to the fathers as the
whole body of the garrifon did his command
over them. Such was the uneafinefs occafion-
ed by his mifcondud, that father Ugarte found
himfelf under a necefiity offending an account
of it to father Salva-Tierra at Mexico, in or-
der for redrefs. It was on this account that
the father brought with him the Portuguefe
don Eflevan Rodriguez Lorenzo, whom he
now made captain : and at the fame time by
his wonderful fweetnefs, fo far prevailed over
Efcalante's refentment of his removal, that for
fome time he continued in California as a com-
mon foldier, till he was promoted to be captain-
lieutenant in the garrifon of Nacofari, from
whence he had come.
The venerable provincial ftaid two months
in California, labouring with the people of the
garrifon and among the Indians, as if he had
been
t4
578 H I S T O R Y O F
been a fimple mifiionary. He was informed
that the fathers immediately after his abfence
feparated, father Bafaldua to San Juan Londo;
father Juan Ugarte to San Xavier, and father
Pedro de Ugarte to Loretto, in order to im-
prove himfeif further in the language, and to
fuperintend the garrifon. Father Juan Ugarte
had that year at San Xavier cleared many pieces
of ground in order for fowing \ and was habi-
tuating his Indians to the labours of the field,
in which to inflruft and encourage them he
was always the firfi:. He had likewife made
feveral progrefles up the country and brought
feveral rancherias to form themfelves into vil-
lages. The like had been done by father Baf-
faldua in San Juan Londo, the town of which
was now become much enlarged ; fomeof them
fettled and civilized voluntarily -, others were
hunted and brought like wild beads from among
precipices of the mountains : fo that in thefe
two miflions, and their towns of vifitation, no
lefs than at the principal of Loretto, were per-
formed the ufual exercifes of catechifing the
young and the adult, the diftribution of pozoli,
and other things pertaining to the miflion. The
provincial went over all the miffions, vifited
the villages which were begun, and the ranche-
rias in friendfhip with them j winning the
hearts of all the Indians by the facility of his
inftrudions.
CALIFORNIA. 379
inftrudlions, and the endearing fweetnefs of his
behaviour. He recommended the fettlement
of the two miflions at Ligni or Malebat, and
on the river Mulege ; and gave the proper di-
rections for its being put in execution without
delay. There being only three mifllonaries, ic
was neceffary that one Ihould take on him the
care of the garrifon of Loretto, and of the mif-
fions of San Xavier and Londo, whilll the
reft of the fathers were fettling the two other
mifTions. This was a fatigue to which no finglc
man was equal. The temporal care of the
garrifon, its magazines, the provifions, and
diftribution of them ; the paying of the fol-
diers and failors ; the care of the fick and of
the Indians ; and the remittance of provifions,
and other fuccours to the abfent fathers and
foldiers, was as much as the moft difengaged
perfon could difcharge. But God provided a
proper remedy for this neceflity. The father
provincial had brought with him from Mexico,
brother Jayme Bravo, a perfon very aflive and
vinderftanding, and likewife of a religious de-
portment : and who had attended on the de-
ceafed vifitor Pineyro. For this brother un-
derftanding that he was going to California,
had earneftly requefted him that he might ac-
company him in fo long and difficult a voyage.
Brother Jayme's intent herein was with the pro-
vincial's
SSo H I S T O R Y O F
vincial's permiflion to remain in California to
aflift the fathers in offices relating to the mif-
fion. The conjuncflure favoured his defire : and
befides his repeated reqneft, the father provin-
cial faw that the miflionaries greatly wanted,
and were defirous of a brother to eafe them of the
careof temporal concerns, that they might employ
themfelves wholly in their prieflly fiindlion. Ac-
cordingly he recommended to them this fervent
brother, who, for the fpace of fourteen years,
ferved the mifilon as temporal co-adjutor with
diftinguifhed zeal, till it was thought proper to
admit him to the priefthood, that he might
ferve as a zealous mifilonary. The provincial
concluded his vifitation without leaving any
written orders for the future government, whe-
ther from humility, or that he judged them
unneceflary ; only diredling that copies might
be taken of the inftitutes, drawn up for other
miiTions by father Hernando Cavero the vifitor :
and fuch articles as were praflicable in
California, to obferve them. Afterwards hav^
king taken his leave of the fathers, foldiers, and
his Indians, with all the affeftion of a parent,
he embarked for New Spain to fuperintend the
government of his province, till the difcharge
from his office, which he had defired, came
from Rome.
SECT,
CALIFORNIA. 381
SECT. IX.
The two millions of San Juan Baptifta Ll-
gui, and of Santa Rofalia Mulege ; Pro-
grefs of the others, and a new furvey of
the coaft of the South-fea.
The provincial had recommended three things
chiefly to his Californian miffionaries ; to fettle
without delay the two miffions S. and N. of
Loretto •, to make progredes up the country in
fearch of convenient fpots for new mifllons,
offering, when fuch were found, to provide mif-
fionaries •, and laflly, to take a furvey in other
parts oftheoppofite coaft of the South fea, in order
to find out fome place proper for the Phi-
lippine fhips to put into, which had been fo
ardently defired. The father was no fooner out
of the country, than the foundation of the mif-
fions was taken in hand. On the fame day,
being the laft of November 1 705, the two fa-
thers, under the aufpices of the great mother,
patronnefsof themifrion,fet out by land, taking
different routs : father Pedro de Ugarte going
for the coaft of Ligui, 14 leagues S. of Lo-
retto i and father Juan Manuel de Baftaldua to
the river Mulege, at the diftance of 40 leagues
northward, whiift father Juan Ugarte ftaid
to
5S2 HISTORY OF
to take care of the three former mifTions and
their villages. Father Pedro had not much
difficulty in reaching the fhore, the country not
being that way very rugged. This trad:
the Monquis in their language call Ligui, and
the Laymones in their's Malibat. It then re-
ceived the name of San Juan Baptifta, in ho-
nour of don Juan Baptifta Lopez, an inhabi-
tant of Mexico, who offered to endow this mif-
fion with a capital of ten thoufand dollars,
keeping the money in his own hand, and pay-
ing the council intereft. Afterwards by the
misfortunes of commerce, this benefadlor fail-
ed, and there was an end of the miflion's fund ;
-which, however, was not forfaken, till it had
converted all the Indians of the neighbouring
country, and put its rancherias and vil-
lages under the care and vifitation of other mif-
fions. Father Pedro Ugarte found his Indians
perfectly quiet, peaceable, and without any ap-
prehenfion, though the only flielter he had for
fome time among them, was the fhade of
the mefquites ; and afterwards of a hut made
with branches of trees, whilft the chapel and a
little dwelling of adoves, or raw bricks, was
building. He endeavoured by little prefents
and carefies, to gain the affedlions of his Indi-
ans, not lb much that they fhould aflift him in
the building, as that they might take a liking
to
CALIFORNIA. 383
to the catechifm, which he explained to them
as well as he could, by the help of feme Indi-
ans of Loretto, while he was perfecting himfelf
in their language. But his kindnefs was loft
on the adults, who, from their invincible (loth,
could not be brought to help him in any one
thing, though they partook of, and ufed to be
very urgent with him for the pozoli and other
eatables. He was now obliged to have recourfe
to the alTiftance of the boys, who being allured
by the father with fweetmeats, and pre-
fents, accompanied him wherever he would
have them : and to habituate thefe to any work
it was neceffary to make ufe of artifice : fome-
times he laid a wager with them who fliould
fooneft pluck up the mefquites and fmall
trees ; fometimes he offered rewards to thofe
who took away mofl earth •, and it fuffices to
fay, that in forming the bricks, he made him-
felf a boy with boys, challenged them to play
with the earth, and dance upon the clay. The
father ufed to take off his fandals and tread it,
in which he was followed by the boys fkipping
and dancing on the clay, and the father
with them ; the boys fung and were highly de-
lighted ; the father alfo fung ; and thus they
continued dancing and treading the clay in
different parts, till meal time. This enabled
him to ered his poor dwelling, and the church ;
at
3^4 HISTORYOF
at the dedication of which the other fathers
aiTifttd. He made life of feveral fuch contri-
vances in order to learn their language ; firft
teaching the boys feveral Spanifh words that
they might afterwards teach him their lan-
guage : when, by the help of thefe mafters, the
interpreters of Loretto, and his own ob-
fervation and difcourfe with the adults, he had
attained a fufficient knowledge of it, he be-
gan to catechife thefe poor gentiles, ufing
a thoufand endearing ways that they lliould
come to the catechifm ; he likewife made
ufe of his boys for carrying on their inftruc-
tion. Thus, with invincible patience and firm-
nefs under excefllve labours, he went on hu-
manizing the favages who lived on the fpot,
thofe of the neighbouring rancherias and others
whom he fought among woods, breaches,
and caverns -, going about every where, that
he at length adminiftered baptifm to many
adults ; and brought this new fettlement into
fome form. Father Pedro was pleafing him-
felf that his labours had at length produced
fome promifing fruit, when a flight acci*
dent, not to mention others, had nearly ruined
all. The father was fent for to aflifl a chrif-
tian woman, who was fick ; but on his coming
found a forcerer whom he did not know, blow-
ing her according to cuftonio The father hav-
ing
CALIFORNIA. 3^:^
ing made him depart and reproved his con-
verts and catechumens for luffering any fuch
thing, conftfTed the patient, adminiftered
the holy unftion to her, and was with her till
her death. A few days after, fome Indians
came with great joy to tell the father that they
had been in queft of the blowing forcerer and
had killed him : the father did not fail feverely
to reprimand them, and thinking it necefTary on
fuch an occafion to avoid difturbances, fent them
away with fome anger : but this was fo far from
pleafingthcm, that they conceived arefentmenc
againft the father, tho' they were artful enough to
conceal it by a fair carriage ; and the way he came
to the knowledge of their bloody refolution,
was by a boy who attended on him, and
one night afked leave that he might go and lie
with his friends : the father denied it ; but find-
ing the boy to be more than ufually urgent,
afked him v/hat made him fo dcfirous of go-
ing ? The boy fimply replied, *' Becaufe, fa-
ther, this night they intend to kill you, and
told me if I was with you, they would kill me
alio." The father on this fent for fome of the
heads, and with great refolution and an un-
daunted air, told them, I know that you have
formed a defign of killing me to night, but re-
member with this mufket (though it was old and
ufelefs) I'll firft make a flaughter of you all ;
Vol. L C c and
385 H I S T O R Y O F
and then liaftily withdrew, leaving the poor
Indians fo terrified, that confulting with the
reft, they determined to Ihift their quarters that
very night ; fuch is their cowardice and dread
of fire-arms. The next day the father was
obliged to go and look after them : and it
was with great difficulty, and after many aflu-
rances that he loved them as his children and
that he meant to do them good, never in-
tending to do them any harm, that he could
prevail on them to return. They believed
him as they found he did not fear them, and
returned eafy and contented to their huts.
I have been particular in this adventure to avoid
mentioning others of a like nature, which hap-
pened every day in the new miflions. No pa-
tience, no courtefy, no prudence, no liberality,
are a fufficient fecurity to the life of a milTionary
among fuch favages : the facrifice of his life is
what every miffionary in a favage country,
fhould folemnly refolve on, as by the ftupidity
and ficklenefs of the Indians, it is every day
in danger. Father Pedro Ugarte continued in
his miflion of San Juan Baptifta Ligui or Ma-
libut, till the year 1 709,when his conftitution funk
under fuch fevere fatigues, that there was a ne-
cclfity for the recovery of his health to fend him to
Mexico, where at the fame time he might negoci-
ate the aO^airs of the miflion, and father Francifca
Par-
C A L I F O R N t A. 387
jf*aralto came in his (lead toLigiii : but that aftive
father was no fooner recovered fo a tolerable de-
gree, than he returned to California, re-afluming
the labours of his miflion, till falling fick a
fecond time, he was tranflated to the miflions
of the river Yaqui, which he defired preferably
to any other j as for them he might be a very
ufeful agent and purveyor for poor and barren
California.
Father Juan Manuel de Baflaldua, who on
the fame day in 1705, went from Loretto
northwards with great difficulty, by reafon of
the cragginefs of the country, reached Concep-
tion bay. The diftance from it by land to the
little river Mulege is very fhort ; but fo rugged
and woody, that it had been in vain attempted
twice before. Thefe difficulties however father
BalTakiua now furmounted, by cutting thro' the
wood, rolling away the flones, filling up floughs,
and opening a way large enough for beafls : and
thus at length found himfclf happily on the
banks of the Mulege, where in the moft con-
venient fpot he fixed his miffion with the fame
labours and dangers as father Pedro dc Ugarte
had gone through at Ligui •, befides the labour
of making a road of 40 leagues from thence to
the garrifon of Loretto, and of frequently re-
pairing it. His miffion he confecrated to Santa
Rofalia at the defire of don Nicolas de Ar-
teaga and donna Jofepha Vallego, his fpoufe,
C c 2 in-
588 HISTORY OF
inhabitants of Mexico, who endowed it with a
fund of ten thoufand crowns. The father built
the d\wslling and church with adoves, at the
diflance of three quarters of a league from the
fea, and near the river. Betwixt this and the
lierra, or the chain of hills, runs a plain of
feven leagues all over covered with mefquites,
which, tho' it afforded good pafture for black
cattle, fheep, and fwine ; none of it has been
turned to tillage tillthefe three lafl years, when a
fluice was made for diftributing the water, as
otherwife in a country where rain is fo fcarce
and uncertain, all induflry would be in vain.
The Indians hereabouts are of a lively, mild
difpofition, and lefs fickle and variable than
others : the father continued, during four years,
inftruding them with indefatigable care, and
bringing them together and uniting them from
all parts, till, on account of ficknefs, he was
obliged to be removed to the other fide,
where he was inverted with the miflion of San
Jofeph de Guaymas, belonging to the govern-
ment of California, that he might there attend
to the relief of it. This he diligently difcharged,
both whilft he continued there, as likewife
when he was at Raum, and the river Yaqui,
whither he was afterwards removed. At Santa
Rofalia Mulege he was fucceeded by father
Francifco Maria Piccolo, who having gone
through
CALIFORNIA. 3S9
through his vifitation of the miflions of So-
nora, withdrew to California : he ruled it
in an apoflolical manner for feveral years, till,
on the death of the venerable father Salva-
Tierra, he was ordered to Loretto. He ex-
tended the fpiritual conqueil northward feveral
leagues. He made many ufeful progrelTes up
the country, endearing himfelf to the people,
preaching the gofpel to them and dilcovering
many traces where new mifTions were planted,
and their vifitation towns, as that of Guada-
lupe, la Puriflima Conception & San Ignafio ;
at length in the year 171 8, he delivered up the
care of the miflion to father Sebaftian de Sif-
tiaga, who officiated there many years with the
fame zeal and fatigues as his predecefTors ; and
turned fome pieces of land into fields, which
were watered by the fluice made in the river.
Such was the diligence of the fathers in their
inftrudlions, that many adults of the miflion
are not only admitted to the annual commu-
nion, but likewife intermediately. Befides, many
Indians have been brought to talk tolerable
Spanifli, and have ferved as interpreters in pro-
greflTes into other nations j and likewife in af-
fifting and teaching new minifters : fome of
them have laboured with extraordinary fidelity
jointly with the fatliers : and among thefe for
their devotion, loyalty, and labours, Bernardo
C c ^ Dababaj
■^go H I S T O R Y O F
Dababa, and Andres Comanay, deferve parti--
ciilar mention ; and great encomiums are given
them in the narratives and letters of fcveral
mifTionaries whom they attended : being of
great fervice to them in all their apoftolical
labours and difficult enterprifes.
There being only three priefts in California,
one having chargcof three m.ilTions, and the other
two employed in the foundation of the new 5
the fecond charge of the provincial to difcover
inland places for new miffions, could hardly be
complied with. But brother Jayme Bravo un-
dertook it J and to this end went from Loretto
in the beginning of the following year 1706,
taking with him a proper quantity of provifi-
ons, accomp inied by the Portuguefe captain,
feven foldiers, and fome Indians, Hefirft vifited
San Juan Baptifta Ligui, where father Pedro
de Ugarte was modelling his miffion -, from
thence they travelled on a day and a half along
the iliore •, brother Jayme with the captain and
two foldiers walked before ; but they were foon
obliged to return, an Indian of the company
bringing them word that the four other foldiers
were dying. The cafe was this ; one of the
foldiers faw a fire where the Indian fifhermen
had jufl; been roafting fifli, and among them
v/ere fome of a fpecies called Botates, the
livers of which contain a very adlive poifon,
^"4
CALIFORNIA, 391
and had been left by the Indians on fome
flielJs : a foldier feeing them, called out to his
comrades, " a fry, a fry!'* they all flopped;
but as they were going to eat, an Indian called
to them not to eat it, for that it would kill
them : to this the foldier who had firft fpied
them, anfwered, none of your noife, Indian,
a Spaniard never dies ; and immediately gave
fome to the other three. Of thefe one eat fome;
another chewed, but did not fwallow it ; the
other more cautious, only handled and viewed
this part. It was not long before they were all
proportionably feized violently with convulfive
pains. The firft expired within half an hour,
and was foon followed by the fecond ; the third
remained fenfelefs till the day following : and
both he and the fourth were in a very bad con-
dition for feveral days. It is natural to think
that brother Jay me and the others muft have
been fenfibly affe6led with this misfortune.
They were now obliged to give over the en-
terprife, and return to Ligui with the dead,
who were buried in the confecrated ground be-
longing to the chapel ; and the fick were fent
to Loretto.
In the mean time the magnanimous father
Juan Ugarte made his celebrated progrcfs for
difcoverino; and reconnoitrins; the coaft of the
South- fea, agreeably to father Salva-Tierra's
C c 4 third
392 HISTORY O F
third injiinftion: and having made feveral vi»
litations at Loretto and San Juan de Londo,
his principal care was for promoting his mif-
fion of San Xavier. It was not without reafon
that the venerable father Salva-Tierra ufed al-
ways to call father Ugarte the apoftle : for
fublime as the title was, his labours were not
unworthy of it. Always in adion and indefa-
tigable ; prefent every where, and doing every
thing'. Pie attempted every thing, and he ac-
compliflied every thing : but his activity never
fo fignally appeared as in thefe beginnings where
the difficulties feemed unfurmountable : fome-
times he was preaching, aflifting, admonilhing,
and attending the foldiers : at other times he
was fearching for new fpots of ground for
villages and fields ; fometimes baptifing the
children j and fometimes inflrufting the
adults -, fometimes adminiftering the facra-
ments to the fick, and performing the laft of-
fices to the dying. Sometimes he worked in
the buildings •, fometimes in the field in making
water trenches, plantations, and fields •, fome-
times he was mending the roads ; fometimes
helping to get ready the barks for fea. In fine,
he was continually labouring in every kind of
employment, and the greatefl fatigue he took;
upon himfelf. As he was now reaping the
temporal fruiis of his induftry and labour for
hi§
CALIFORNIA. 395
his Indians, tiiey were now more eafily brought
to obferve the appointed divifion of mafs, prayer,
catechilm, rofary, explanations, and fermons,
and other methods for infl:ru(5lion in chriftia-
nity ; infomuch that he had fet penalties for
thofe who were abfent at thefe exercifes ; as a
diminution of their allowance, or fome ftripes
according to the nature of their offence. The
children were the obje(5ls of his greateft care ;
their innocent age being more fufceptible of a
chriftian education. The feminary was the fa-
ther's houfe, where fome of them continued all
teaching them with unwearied patience fuch
parts of knowledge as were valuable, even
among the Spaniards: and many of them made
not only capable of inflrusfling the ranche-
rias, but an example of good behaviour
to them. For the girls, efpecially fuch as w.re
orphans, a feparate houfe was built ; where a
miltrefs inftrud:ed them in the little works pro-
per for the fex \ the father taking upon him-
felf the religious part of their education.
Another building was erccled for an hofpital,
where the father's charity fignally appeared in
the fpiritual and temporal alTiilance of the fick
till death, which, in many, was accompanied
wMth great figns of falvation. With one
of thefe father Hcheverria, vifitor of California,
being at San Xavier, was extremely affedled ;
he
394 HISTORYOF
he had made his general confefilon to father
Ugarte in his own language, and had feveral
times in the Spanifli language entered into far-
ther particulars of his confefTion wiih the vi-
Utor, begged of him thac as he was unable to
so to church, he would be fo kind as to come
and pray over the rofary with him. He afked
pardon of his countrymen for his ill example ;
he declared, that he defired then to die, left
he fhould return to his former wicked courfes ;
he exhorted his relations to live pioufly, and
obey the fathers : and thus amidft afpirations
of love and confidence in God, he delivered
up his foul into his hands. Another and he,
a very obftinate forcerer, or impofler, God
was pleafed to bring to the faith ; being ftrong-
ly atfedted with the love fhewn by the father
tohis little fon, who he was very urgent of having
baptized j but unwilling to fubmit to learn the
catechifm. At length he complied, and was
catechifed by the father, to whom, ngainfh his
natural repugnancy, he laid open the myfteries
of the preftiges with which he and others de-
ceived the nation. At his baptifm he v/as called
Doningo j and now full of joy at being a
chriftian, he made the houfe and the church
his continual abode, praying night and day du-
ring the few weeks he furvived his happy ad-
miffion into chriftianity. The father, in order
CQ
CALIFORNIA. 395
to wean the favages from tlieir fuperftitious
burials, had his funeral performed with great
folemnity. Another famous forcerer, who,
for a long time had been continually ftirring
up the gentiles and catechumens againfl the
fathers, came all in tears to Loretto, where fa-
ther Ugarte then was, intreating that he might
then be baptized. His tears and vows of
amendment, and his offer to ftay at Loretto,
induced the father to take him under his care ;
and he baptized him on St. Ambrofe's day,
being the 7th of December 1705 j giving him
the name of that faint. The next day the fa-
ther went to celebrate the feftival of the con-
ception at his ov/n town of San Xavier : on the
9th he returned to Loretto, where he found the
new chriftian had fpent the greateft part of his
time in the church : the fame day, being
taken ill, the father never left him in his laft
hours, and he died with great marks of having
been called by that Being, in whofe hands
is the deftiny of all men.
Amidft thefc occupations, father Juan Ugarte
alfo made the laft difpofitions for the progrefs
towards furveying the fouth coaft, the chief of
the Yaqui nation, of whom the father had afked
forty warriors for the enterprife, came with
them himfelf. The captain of the garrifon of
Loretto attended the expedition with twelve
foldiers
59^ HISTORY OF
fbldiers and fome Indians j the beads and pro-
vifions for the marcli were all got ready, and
father Ugarte and brother Bravo on the 26th
of November 1706, with thefe ieveral bodies
divided into three companies, fet out in good
order from Loretto. The firft place they came
to was the mifiion of St. Xavier; rext to the vi-
litalion town of Santa RofaHa ; afterwards they
came to a brook, to which they gave the name
of San Andres, having by the fide of it cele-
brated mais on that apofcle's day. By the way
they met with feveral Indiaiis who behaved
peaceably. But when they came near the fea,
above two hundred Indians of the Guaycura
nation, who bore an inveterate hatred to the
Spaniards, who now found it neceffary to march
circumfpedly and ready for adlion. They took
a view of the coaft for many leagues fouth-
ward ; but found only feveral creeks and fome
rancherias, who lived by fifhing. But the only
frefli water along the coafl was in liitle wells
dug by the Indians. They marched back to-
wards the north, and unhappily found the coafl
much the fame, fo that they were for fome time
p-reatly diftrelled for want of water : they halt-
ed near the bed of a dry rivulet, along which,
in times of rain, the waters run down into
the fea, and the willows and flags manifefted the
moidure of the foil. From thence they fent
fome
CALIFORNIA. 'i.c^j
fome to take a farther view of the coaft, with
orders not to travel ten or eleven leagues.
In the mean time they followed the bed of
the river both upwards and downwards in
queft of water, but without fuccefs. They
then difperfed themfelves feveral v/ays to look
out for a clepii fpot of ground which had fome
water, for pading the night ; but during the
whole month of December no water could be
found for man or beaft. Thus tired and perifh-
ing for thirfl, they found a fhelter for that
night, and kindled fires to relieve themfelves
from the cold ; they aifo let Joofe the beads, as
they poflibly in roving, might find water: but
with all their contrivance and diligence, it
proved a very painful night to them. In the
morning the father celebrated the mais of the
conception of our lady, with humble fuppiica-
tions to God, through the immaculate mother,
that he would not permit them all to perifh on
a day fo much his own. All devoutly accom-
panied the father's fupplications, at the fame
time that father Pedro was faying mafs at Lo-
retto, for the good fuccefs of the difcovery.
After mafs our lady's litany v/as fung •, but
before fervice was over, a Yaqui Indian called
out in his tongue, water, water ! On cominc»-
up to the place it was found to be the fame,
which, in the evening, and at night, feveral had
pafled
39$ H 1 S T O R Y C F
pafled and viewed without perceiving a drop
of water. The place befides was dry •, that
no water was naturally to be expeded there :
however it now afforded a fuHiciency for fa-
tisfying the whole company, together with the
beafls, and for filling feveral veffels to ferve
in the return, which was refolved on the very
fame day, after a folcmn thankfgiving to the
bleffed virgin ; for the furvcyors were returned,
reporting that they had, according to orders,
reconnoitred the coaft till they came to a wide
bay, but that it afforded no water. Thus,
without any advantage from this chargeable
expedition, they returned to Loretto, where
they again celebrated a mafs to the patronefs
of the miflion ; for having fo remarkably
faved them from perilbing on thefe barren
^oafts.
SECT.
CALIFORNIA; 399
SECT. X.
Father Salva-Tierra returns to California;
his labours there. The mifnon of Saa
Jofeph de Comonda founded by father
Mayorga j the miilion greatly fufFers by
the lofs of the barks, and the fliip-
wreck of the fathers Guillem and Guifci,
the latter of which was drowned.
Whilfl the mifllonary fathers in California
were thus employed in the execution of father
Salva-Tierra*s orders, his difcharge from the
office of provincial, which he had petitioned
for, came from Rome : wherefore the father,
general Miguel Angel Tamburim, conferred
the patent of provincial on father Bernardo
Rolandegui, the province's agent at Madrid
and Rome, who being returned to Mexico,
entered on his office on the 17th of September
1706. Father Salva-Tierra with great fatisfac-
tion returned to the college of San Gv< gorio,
that together with father Alexandre Romano
appointed agent for California, he might pro-
vide the accounts required by the foldiers, and
the goods and provifions for the garrifons and
miffions. Father Julian de Mayorga, already
appointed miffionary, though but lately arrived
from
4C?b H I S T O R Y O F
from Spain, together with father Rolandegui,
directing that they fliould be forwarded from
Matanchel harbour whither the bark fhould be
fent: but the father, in (lead of embarking at Ma-
tanchel travelled above four hundred leagues by-
land through the provinces of Cinaloa and Sonora
as far as the harbour of Ahome, in compli-
ance with the defiresofthebenefadlorsof hismif-
fion ; and to colled free contributions and fuc-
cours for it. The father in his lad voyage from
California to Mexico, had brought with him five
Indians of a good genius from different rancherias,
leaving the three which he had brought the
firfl: time, for their further improvement;
as having feen the beauties of chriftianity
in the fettled churches in New Spain, they
might give the more favourable account of
them to their countrymen. The five Califor-
nians were received every where with great
kindnefs by the jefuits, who looked on them as
the firfl fruits to God and the lamb in this
laborious milfion.
But by the unhealthincfs of the country, the
change of climate and food, they all five fell
fick in this long voyage, and the delays
which their cafe now required, greatly increaf-
ed odier fevere inconveniences which happened
5 - to
CALIFORNIA. 401
to them. At length they came to Ahome, where,
on the 30th of January 1 707, they embarked for
Loretto. They were fcarce at fea when one of
the Indians, called don Jego Jofcph, was again
feized with a fatal illnefs. But fuch was his fe-
renity and refignation, that he fervently prayed
the Almighty to remove him from this life before
he reached Californiaj if he had no further fervice
for him. The father vifited him in his laft
moments, and thefe were employed in fuch
a6ts of all religion expreffed with a fpirit and
energy, as filled even the oldefl chriflians with
a devout envy of his felicity. The lofs of
this excellent perfon was followed by a
furious ftorm which father Salva-Tierra thus
defcribes :
" The night of the 31(1 of January was ex-
tremely dark, we were with the mad lalhed,
but without a rudder ; and amidft rocks and
iflands, the fea continually making a free paf-
fage over us ; the faiiors, fpent with toil and
hunger, having been without food for a day
and a half, were proflrate, giving all over for
loft. The lead damage which we could expeft
was to be drove into the fea of Gallicia, or
Acapulcoi "triftiflimanodis imago!" The Cali-
fornians got about me like chickens, and they
were not my leaft confidents , as being new-
born fons of the great madonna, and had run
Vol. I. D d this
402 H I S T O R Y O F
this rifk in her fervice ; " Ne quando dicant
gentes," &c. Laftly, concludes the father,
after all my journeys and voyages, I never
knew what dangers or diftrcfles by land or fea
were, till now." They were driven by the tetn-
peft to San Jofeph, ten leagues S. of Loretto ;
in which they fetupthe firftcrofs, and afterwards
the fea being a little calm, they on the 3d of
February reached the defired fliore, where they
were received with univerfal joy. As for the
Californians, they could not exprefs their afto-
niihment at the wonders which their four coun-
trymen related to them about New Spain. A
few months after father Julian de Mayorga
came from Matanchel, accompanied by the
captain of Loretto, Rodrigues, who had gone
over to be married to a lady of diftinflion of
that province, and father Ignatio Alvarando,
appointed for the milTions of Sonora ; father
Julian was foon taken ill, his ficknefs was ow-
ing both to the fatigue of the journey and the
fea, and the alteration of the climate ; and his
being alfo quite unaccuftomed to the fait meat
and maize, which was all the garrifon then af-
forded. And his iilnefs daily increafing by the
unavoidable duty of afllfting at the offices,
father Juan Maria refolved to remove him to
the coaft of New Spain : but father Mayorga
hearing of it, entreated him on his knees to die
j; in
California; 403
in California, whither God, through the choice
of his fuperiors, had fent him. However it
pleafcd the divine mercy that he recovered ;
and inuring himfelf to fatigues and hardfhip,
he fervcd in this mifl'ion v/ith unwearied appli-
cation, for the fpace of thirty years. Jn the
beginning of the year 1708, the fathers Salva-
Tierra, and Juan de Ugarte carried him to a.
country twenty leagues N. W. of Loretto, in
the center of the mountains, and almoft at an
equal diflancefrom both feas : and in the coun-
try town called Comondu, in which were feveral
rancherias of Indians fituated near a little brook.
Here father Mayorga was invefled with the mif-
fion which was confecrated to St. Jofeph, and
endowed by that magnificent nobleman, the
Ttiarquis' de Villa Puente, as were the other two,
of which we fhall prefently fpeak. The fathers
attended the new miffionary for fome days,
aflifting him in getting his Indians together, and
civilizing them -, in building a chapel, and fet-
ting up huts of boughs, and bringing the mif-
fion into fome form j after which they returned
to their former occupations. Father Mayorga
by degrees, and with the ufual fatigues, confti-
tuted his mifTion. He had fome years before
confecrated his church with great folemnity.
The greateft part of his Indians he got toge-
ther in two vifitation towns, San Ignacio and
D d 2 San
404 HISTORYOF
San Juan, befides San Jofeph the capital, and
fome fcattered rancherias, who however con-
flantly attended the catechifm. He ereded a
feminary of boys in his houfe, and another of
girls with a miftrefs, as likewife an hofpital ;
and entirely fupplied all the three. He laid
out fome fmall fields for maize near San Igna-
cio, the foil of the other two, admitting only
of vines, which thrive very well there. His
fpiritual labours he difcharged with fuch zeal
and affeftion, that it was a pleafure to fee the
acquifitions, the devotion, and good deportment
of this little community •, and in which it
flill happily perfeveres, many Indians being ad-
mitted to the facrament within the year. Some
years after he was fucceeded in this cure by
father Francis Xavier Wagmer, who died here
on the 1 2th of October 1 744, amidft his fuccefs-
ful endeavours for the advancemfnt of re-
ligion.
Some other fpots convenient for founding
miflions had already been difcovered : and
within a few years on the return of father Salva
Tierra to California, others more convenient
were found y but the misfortunes and diftrelTes
by fea and land, at that time hindered the total
accompHHiment of the father's fervent defires.
The San Xavier bark, which, from the begin-
ging of the miflion, had hitherto been of great
ufe
J
i
CALIFORNIA. 405
ufe in tranfporting provifions, failed from
Loretto in Augufl 1 709, with three thoufind
dollars on board for purchafinga fupply, and to
bring it over, together with what (hould be given
by the miflionaries : but a violent ilorm, which
lafted three days, drove it on the barren coaft
of the Seris, beyond Puerto de Guaymas, and
fixty leagues north of Yaqui, where it was
ftranded among fhelves and rocks ; fome
of the men were drowned, and others faved
themfelves in the boat. This difafter at fea
was followed by another on the land, and of no
lefs confequence : for this country being entirely
inhabited by gentile Seris and Tepocas, at that
time bitter enemies to the chriftians of the
mifllons among the Pimas, Cocomaques, and
Guaymas, they were obliged after taking all the
treafureoutofthelaunch, and burying it, to return
in the boat, through a thoufand dangers and dif-
trefles to Yaqui. But the Seris foon raked up the
depofitum, took the helm from the bark, and
damaged it very much in feveral places, to get
out the nails. A diving bark was fent to fa-
ther Salva-Tierra with this account, and there
being at the miflion, no other veffd but the
Rofario, and that in a very bad condition, he
refolved to go in perfon, to repair the San Xa-
vier. The father, v^^hilft vifitor of Sonora,
had made a peace betwixt the Seris chriftians,
Dd 3 and
4o6 H I S T O R Y O F
and the Pimas. However, it was not long before
the Seris were guilty of a cruel violation of it,
in the murder of forty Pimas •, and though the
fbldiers of the nearefl: garrifon purfued them
to their coafts, it availed little, for they made
for the iflands of Sal-fi-pucdes, and there was
no diflodging them without veffels. Father
Salva-Tierra had been applied to for thofe of
his mifTion, but there was no fparing them,
efpecially as the fathers intended to go in per-
fon to the Seris, both for furveying the gulf,
as far as the river Colorado, as likewife for
reftoring tranquility a fecond time; hoping that
by extending the fpiritual conqueft from Califor-
nia, he fhould have no difficulty to convert and
make chriftians of them. Thus both coafls
would be reduced to the king and the gofpel.
At the time this expedition was deferred, the
diftrefies of his poor and vacant miffion
would not admit of the execution of any of
thefe zealous fchemes, however well concerted.
But now, on the 6th of Odober, he went in
the Rofario to Guaymas, where he directed that
the bark fliould fail to the ancient deferted port
of San Juan Baptilla, with feamen, officers,
and provifions ; others were ordered in the boat
to the fhore, where the San Xavier was ftrand-
ed. As for the father himfelf, he chofe to go by
land, attended by fourteen Yaqui Indians,
thOLlgl>
CALIFORNIA. 407
though it was extremely rugged, and inhabited
by enemies, purely to have an opportunity of
planting peace and religion among the Seris,
and vifiting the Pimas and Guaymas.
In this journey, which was attended with
great hardfliips, he came to the villages of
the two lad newly afTembled by the fathers
Piccolo and Baflaldua, where he inftruded the
adults, and baptifed the children. He brought
many of the rancherias of the Seris and Tepo-
cas to peaceable inclinations, which happy
^vork, befides his perfuafive elocution, was not
a little forwarded by the refpedable fweetnefs of
his air, which never failed immediately to gain
the hearts of the favages. Two days he and
his company fuffered a terrible thirft, not ha-
ving feen a fingle drop of water during than
time. At length he came where the San Xa-
vier was ftranded, and found the men belong-
ing to the boat, deflitute of all food, having only
wild herbs to eat, which they boiled. He re-
lieved them with what provifions he brought,
but they were foon fpcnt among fuch numbers.
He had wrote to the fathers Fernando Bayerca
and Miguel de Almazan, as the neareft miffio-
naries, to fend him provifions j but neither In-
dians nor Spaniards would venture to bring them
through the country of the Seris, except one
Indian, who boldly came with a fmall fup-
^d ^ ply.
4o5 HISTORY O F
ply, and to him the Seris were fo friendly, as
to fhew him the way to the fhore. The diftrcfs
was fuch at this time, that the father expecting
nothing but death, wrote a letter to the mar-
quis de Villa Pucrte with a lift of the debts of
the miffion, in order to the difcharge of them ;
and this letter he gave to a faithful lad, to be
delivered atGuaymas: but providence refcrved
him for farther fervices, for by the afllftance
of a little maize, furnifhed him by the favages,
he was enabled to undertake a new journey to
the harbour of San Juan Baptifta, which the
Rofaria had already reached, though he had
flill fourteen leagues to tr:ivel. At a little di-
fhance, he found the rancheria of Indians, who
had carried off the cargo of the San Xavier, and
damaged the bark. Thefe appeared provoked
and ftood to their arms : an old man anima-
ting them with terrible vociferations. The fa^
ther advanced alone towards them, and though
unacquainted with the language, which is dif-
ferent from that of Pimera, he, by figns, kind
geftures, and little prefents to the old chief and
his ions, gained the good will of the Indi-
ans : but hearing the explofions of the bark's
pateraioe's, an unufual found to them, many
of them were terrified, and brought him the
money and goods they had plundered, and
agreed to terms of peace with their neighbours.
'■ ■ - The
CALIFORNIA. 409
The people of the Rofario came with provi-
fions to the Ihore where the San Xavier bark
lay ; but it was two months before fhe was fit
forthefea; during which interval, they were
feveral times in want of provifions. For
thoug;h the miflionaries, who had now nothino-
to apprehend from the Seris, were not wanting
to fend them fupplies, the quantity was not
fufficient tor fo large a number of people, this
having been a very barren year through all New
Spain. The father knowing, that thirty leagues
up the country, there was a garrifon called
Nueftra Sennora de Guadafoupe, the captain of
which, at that time, was don. Francifco Xavier
Valenzuela, who had ferved as a common fol-
dier in Catalonia ; he writ to him, who imme-
diately fent what fuccours he could, and foon
after came in perfon, with fome of his men and
a larger fupply. But neither he nor his ve-
terans, when they faw the diftrefies of the fa-
ther and his company, could refrain from tears.
The father, unwilling to lofe the time neceffary
for refiting the San Xavier, undertook the con-
verfion of the favages of that coafl. In order
to this, he defired father Almanaz to tranflate
the catechifm into their language ; and incited
by little prefents, the Indians took it fo readily,
that he thought all his labours fully recompen-
fed. The Scris had foqie years before defired
baptifmj
4IO H I S T O R Y O F
baptifm, and the fathers to inftrufl: them like
their neighbours : and above three hundred at
the invination of father Gafper Thomas, miiTi-
onary of Qiicuguerpe had agreed to hve at his
miffion . And many others defired the fame fa-
vour of father Adam Gil, miflionary of Po-
pulo, who undertook to vifit them, offering to
remove to his mifnon, though the climate was
far from being defirable. But father Gil, una-
ble with all his application, to overcome the
difficulties of their language, could never in-
ftrudt them. He petitioned the father provin-
cial, to be miffionary to the Seris ; but his
mifiion was prevented by the revolt of the Tara-
humares and their fubfequent wars with the
neighbouring Pimas and Guaymas. Their
former requeils, and their prefent inllances, to-
gether with the dcfire of inflrucfling all from
Guayma, and the oppofite coaft of California,
to which the reduflion of them was of fuch im-
portance, now determined father Juan Maria,
to baptife their children, which they offered
with a kind of emulation j but ftill the recon-
ciliation betwixt them was wanting ; and in
order to this, he invited the children of the fe-
veral nations of the Seris, Pimas, Tepocas,
and Guaymas, to a grand feaft on the day of
killing the cattle, which had been brought from
the garriibn of Guadaloupe, for fupplying the
two
CALIFORNIA. 411
two barks. The old Indians came with the
children, as the father imagined, without any
apprehenfion, confiding in the refpeft which all
paid him as their common benefaftor. Here
a peace was readily concluded, and the Seris
were promifed that they fhould loon fee mifli-
onaries among them, to inflrud and take care
of them.
The father was extremely affefled at the un-
happy (late of fo many mortals, fo well dif-
pofed for embracing chriftianity. On the o-
ther hand, he knew the arrears and incum-
brances of the provinces, the difficulties of
new miffions, and above all, the want of fub-
jeds, on account of the calamities and dillur-
bances, that then reigned in Europe.
California, however, required the father*s
prefence; and accordingly, as foon as theb^rk
was refitted, and he returned from vifiting, in-
ftruding, and comforting the people of Guada-
loupe, he embarked and failed through the
channel, betwixt the iflands of Sal-fi-puedes,
finding it, contrary to copT^non report, na-
vigable. He afterwards went to San Xavier,
and fcnt back the Rofario to Loretto, gong
in the former to the bay of Conception, to pay
a vifit to father Piccolo, who was already ap-
pointed to the miflion of Santa Rofalia Mulege,
From thence he failed to the bay of San
Dionyfio,
412 H I S T O R Y O F
Dionyfio, or Loretto, highly pleafed that he
liad difcovered the part of the gulf defired.
He travelled over great part of the cpaft of the
Seris, and along the mountains as far as the fea.
He fettled peace among the inhabitants, and
prepared them lor the reception of the gofpel :
and the Rofaria was faved from being taken by
thePitchilingues or pirates, better known among
Europeans by the name of Freebooters, and
the Englifli and Dutch privateers which infeft-
ed thofe feas. Thefe, indeed, alarmed the vice-
roy's vig.lance, but he fent orders at that time
to Loretto, that the Californian vcffel fhould
go out to meet the Iliip from the Philippine
iflands, and give them notice to keep at a great
diftance from the coaft, as the enemy were
looking out for her. The veiled would cer-
tainly have fallen into their hands, being under
a necefiity of palTing in fight of the harbour
of La Paz, where fome of them lay. But the
misfortune of the bark, hindered tlie execution
of the viceroy's orders, and faved the vefiel
from being taken by the enemy.
Soon afcer thefe tranfadions, the fmall pox
broke out in a terrible manner among the In-
dians, fweeping away the far greater part of
the children, and many of the adults. Nor
was this al! J the frequent fcarcity, which reduced
^hem to live only on maize and fait meat, un-
lefs
CALIFORNIA. 413
lefs when fome refrefliments happily arrived
from the other fhore, gave rife to many diftem-
pers in the garrifon, and proved fatal to
fcveral perfons. Thefe epidemias it was ap-
prehended, would produce infurreflions in
many rancherias already converted, the for-
cerers imputing the diftempers to the father,
and perfuaded the Indians that they killed the
children with the water in baptifm, and the adults
with the extreme un6lion. Thefe feditious re-
ports and falfities found too much credit, on
account of the great number of people who
died : and had not the Neophites been remark-
ably faithful to the fathers, the fruit of all their
labours would at once have been loll. Befides
thefe calamities. New Spain had from the year
1709, laboured under a continual fcarcity,
which greatly increafed the difficulty of fending
fuccours to California; and to compete the
misfortunes of the miffion, it loft two barks,
the expences of which were very heavy.
In November 171 1, father Juan Maria fent
to Matanchel father Francifco Peralta, who
came to California two years before, and had
the fuperintendency of San Juan Ligui. in the
room of father Ugarte, defiring that he would
aflift at the intended repair of the Rofaria, and,
if it was found neceffary, to build another
vefiel. But fuch were the arts and frauds of the
officers
'414- H I S T O R Y O F
officers and failors, who had the care of the
work, that, availing themfelves of the father's
want of fkill, after an expence of fome thou-
fands of dollars, the bark was in a worfe con-
dition than before ; and within a few days, by
the wicked contrivance of thofe very perfons,
though there was but little v/ind, run alhore,
though only in ballafl:, and broke to pieces.
There was now a neceffity for building another.
The matter builder was a Chinefe or Philippine,
who, befides his ignorance of his bufinefs, was
an artful deceiver, having condufled the charge-
able repair of the Rofaria, which he had the
chief hand in running adiore. Above a year and
a half was fpent in building this veiTel, through
the various frauds of the perfons employed, fo
that the charge of it amounted to twenty-two
thoufand dollars. And after fo enormous an
expence, the vefTel, inflead of being fafe, or a
good failer, had neither beauty nor propor-
tion. In this veffel, however, they were to
embark with the accounts and provifions. They
accordingly put to fea, but the veffel was im-
mediately the fport of the winds and waves,
amidft the continual murmurs and imprecations
of the feamen, fome of whom had been em-
ployed in building her. The wind drove them
to cape San Lucas, and back again to the
iflands of Mafaztlan, where fome, from a fenfe
of
CALIFORNIA; 415
of their danger, were unwilling to go on board
a fecond time. The others continued their un-
fortunate voyage -, till, after many difficulties,
they had fight of the coaft of Loretto. But
on the night of the 8th of December, a ftorm
came on which drove the vefTel to the other
coaft, where they ran her afliore.
In this extremity, they awakened all who
were afleep, that they might make ufe of
boards and pieces of timber, or get on to the
poop, where twenty-two perfons had fought
their fafety, and among thefe the fathers
Guillem and Doye, the others, to the number of
fix, befides father Benfto Guifi, being drowned.
The difmal fcene of fuch danger and diftrefs,
increafed by the obfcurity and tempeftuoufnefs
of the night, may be better conceived than
defcribed. Four of the feamen cleared the
little boat, and, thinking of nothing but their
own fafety, committed themfelvcs to the fea.
The others, who lay fioating with the bark on
the ftern and main maft, after a great deal of la-
bour, unlalhed the larger boat, but had no-
thing to bale out the water, except two fmaJl
calabafhes. They took what firft offered to
ferve for oars, and a piece of an old fail : and
thus put off, committing themfelves to the mer-
cy of the waves till morning, when they found
they were feveral leagues from the land. On
this
4i6 HISTORYOF
this difcovery, they made fail towards it, and
continued rowing for a day and a half againfl
the current, miftaking the land for California.
But on going afhore, the failers took it for the
coaft of Yaqui, though it proved to be of Ci-
naloa, one hundred leagues from Yaqui, whi-
ther the ftrength of the current carried them in
a few hours, to a fmall creek called Barva-
Chivato. How great mud have been the mi-
feries of this fhort pafTage, eighteen perfons in
one boat, and all naked, wet, pierced with
the cold, quite fpent with rowing, without
water, without food, and, when landed, with-
out any other comfort than that of having
efcaped the fca. They found no fire, nor uten-
fils for making any. And to fatisfy their hun-
ger, they were obliged toeatthe oyfters, wilks,
fea weeds, roots, and wild herbs. The coun-
try was covered with briars and brambles, and
though at every flep, their fiefli was lacerated
in a terrible manner, there was a necefTity for
making their way through in queft of the inha-
bitants. In this two days were fpent, in ex-
treme toil and pain, when it was their good for-
tune to find an open plain, where by the infor-
mation of an Indian of the country, the go-
vernor of the town of Tamazula vifited
them with horfes, water, and maize-cakes
for their relief, and to enable them to reach
the
CALIFORNIA. 417
tlie refidence of the general Rezaval, v/hich
was but a few leagues off, and from thence
they travelled to Guazave, the neareft Ciniloa
miffion in that country. Here they refrefhed
themfelves three days with father FrancifcO
Mazaregos, who, to cloath and entertain thefe
fliipwrecked perfons, liberally expended all the
apparel and provifions he was maflier of. the
Indians chearfully following his example*
Thence they proceeded to the town of Cinaloa,
where they were feveral days entertained by
father Juan Yrazoqui, reflor of the college,
till each departed to his appointed ftation.
All thefe hardfhips and dangers, inllead of de-
terring father Guillem, were rather incentives
to hiin ; fo that in a ffew days, he fet out by
land, on the long journey to the mifTions of
Yaqui^ in order, at the end of the following
month of January 17 14, to pafs over into Ca-
lifornia, whtn, in the San Xavief bark, he
fuffered afecond fhipwreck. This occafioned
his being invefted with the miffion of San Juan
Ligui, where he refided feveral years, till he
was called to the vifitation town. Now the
miffions and their fupport, a fecond time came
to depend upon the San Xavier bark ; and the pro-
vifions and the other goods in the new Rofario,
being utterly loft, the cloathing and other
Commoditits, fent for by the fathers, feamen,
ToL. I. E e and
4iS HISTORYOF
and foldiers, were wanting. They were with-
out money, it having been exhaufted in pur-
chafing of an unfortunate vefiel and goods.
And though the audience of Guadalaxara were
pleafed to take into confideration the frauds
committed by the officers and fhipwrights, in
building that vefTel, which had been loft, and
inflided fome punifiiment upon them ; yetthefe
examples had little efFed: in California. At
lall thefe misfortunes and dangers reached
Mexico, and the viceroy immediately ordered
the bilander, called Nueftra Sennora de Gua-
daloupe, which had been regiftered, to be fent to
California. She was valued at four thoufand
dollars, chargeable on the alignment, with
orders likewife to go on the difcovery of fome
harbour for the Philippine fhip : but after.the
third voyage, father Ugarte caufed the bilander
to be furveyed by an intelligent fliipwright,
who difcovered great defedls and frauds in her
keel, the bottom and upper works ; and the
whole vefTel appeared to be patched up with
pieces of a French fliip, caft away on the coaft
of Peru : and accordingly, the next voyage
fhe was loft, only by ftriking on a fand bank.
At the fame time, another bark belonging to
Peru was alfo loft. She had been purchafed
about that time, inftead of the San Jofeph,
which, finking at Acapulco, had been fold.
5 The
CALIFORNIA. 419
The San Xavier bark alfo fufFered by bad wea-
ther; and her frequent repairs ran away with
a great deal of time and money.
In the mean rimetheprovifionsforthegarrifon
and million, were brought in the diving barks of
the inhabitants of the other fliore; but the freights
occafioned an enormous expence without
end. Such a feries of misfortunes hindered
ftther Salva-Tierra from furveying the gulf
on both fides, with its iflands, as far as the
river Colorado, as he earneftly defired. The
redu(5lion of the Seris and Tepocas, of fo
much importance and fo happily begun, was
alfo difcontinued, together with the fearch for
the harbour, on the fouth coaft, fo much de-
fired for the Philippine fliip. The millions in
the north of California, were far from being
fettled as they ought to have been : and thofe
to the northward were at enmity with the Guay-
curi, whom it was fo necelTary, both for the
intereft of the king and religion, to appeafe
and convert, that no enemies might be left be-
hind, from Loretto to cape San Lucas.
Notwithftanding all thefe difficulties and
folicitudes, the Califbrnian mifllonaries did not,
as far as circumftances would permit, abate
their labours. They reduced many wandering
rancherias into towns, whither the Indians
vifed to repair for inftrudion, while the nc-
Ee 2 celTity
420 H I S T O R Y O F
cefTity of fearching for fifli and wild fruits,
did not difperfe them among the forefts and
along the fhores. Father Ugarte made feveral
progrefTes to the fouthward from San Xavier,
whilft father Piccolo did the like to the north-
ward, from Santa Rofalia Mulege ; the In-
dians had feveral times come in great numbers
from the rancherias of Cadigomo, near the
coaft of the South Tea, lying N. W. of Mu*
lege, requefting that he would come and vifit
them, and bring with them a father to live in
their country. Accordingly, in the year 171 2,
though in a bad ftate of health, he complied
with their defire, being attended by the captain,
fome foldiers, and Indians. By the help of
guides, they pafied the mountains of Vaja-
demin, and on the weft fide of it, met with a'
fmall, brook, which they followed to its ilTue
into the fea, in order to furvey that part of the
coaft. But finding it by no means proper for a
fettlement, they returned the fame way, and at
eight leagues diftance from the fea, the father
marked out the ground for a new miftion.
Hither all the neighbouring rancherias reforted,
entreating him that he would ftiay with them ;
and as an inducement to comply with their de^
fires, they promifed to give him their beft pita-
hayas and feathers, as likewife their children
for baptifm. The father promifed them a
milTionary,
I
CALIFORNIA. 421
mifllonary, and was not wanting on the firfl:
opportunity, to beg that the father provincial
would fend a proper perfon -, but it was not till
five years after, that the miflion could be
founded, though the father, in the interim,
vifited them feveral times from his own miflion,
whither they ufed to be continually coming
with the fame entreaties, though at the diftance
of thirty leagues, and the road very craggy
and broken. The fame requefl: was alfo made
at different times, by the N. Cochimes, of the
rancherias of Cada-kaaman, which in their
Janguage fignifies Sedge -brook, lying on the
fkirts of the ridge of mountains, towards the
coaft of the South fea, forty leagues diflrant
from Santa Rofalia. This journey he under-
took on the 6th of November 1706, with
only three foldiers and fome Mulege Indians,
to take care of two large afTes, on which they
carried the provifions for the whole company.
After travelling three days, he was met on the
fhore of Amuna by the rancheria, to which in
other progrefles, the father had given the
name of Santa Aguida : hence he vifited
thofe of Santa Lucia and Santa Nympha : and
laftly, on the 19th, came to the fpring of the
brook, where he found three new rancherias.
They made great entertainments for the father,
iand accompanied him all the way from the
E e ^ place
422 HISTORY OF
place where they met, going before to remove
the flones, and prelenting him with firings of
pitahayas, and fliewing all poflibh demon-
llrations of joy : as on the other hand, they
fhewed themfelves extremely concerned at fee-
ing the hampers of provifions wet ; t^p afles
having by the carelefTnefs of the attendants,
nm down into a pond, overgrown with fedge.
Many of the rancherias of the neighbourhood,
alfo came hither with the fjme alacrity, the
women eagerly bringing their children for bap-
tifm, which the father admi ift'^red to fifty.
He remained with them till the month of De-
cember, comforting and inftru(5lirg them, and
a large arbour was made for the celebration of
mafs. He ordered the brook to be traced, and
it was found that ten or twelve leagues further,
it lofjs itfelf under ground. As the place was
fit for fields and paftures, and every way con-
venient for fettling a mifiion,hepromifed to fend
them a father who fhould live among them,
and take care of rhem, though lor the want of
labourers and other impediments, this could
not be performed till the year 1728, when a
miflion was founded under the title of San
Ignacio.
Provifions now beginning to fail, and the
cold fetting in, which is there very fenfible,
it was thought advifeable to return. And the
Indians
CJi L I F O R N I A. 423
Indians fent with him guides, that he might
take another way by feveral unknown rancherias,
whom he found equaiJy inclined to receive the
gofpel, if there had not been an irremediable
want of preachers. The venerable fath' r, not
content with the difcovery made by thofe under
him, was continually forming meafures for
furveying the gulf, and, at lead, once more
vifit the Seris and the Tepocas, fo unhappily
forfaken. In the year 171 6, he laboured very
diligently towards pacifying the Guaycuros.
In order to which, he failed in the Guadaloupe
brigantine to La Paz, that being the fcene of
the ill-advifed attempt of Otondo, the memory
of which was continually refrcflied, by the mu-
tual violences committed by the pearl fifhers in
the neighbourhood. He carried with him
three Guaycuri prifoners, wiiom he took out of
the pearl fifhing barks of New Spain, that he
might deliver them in peace to their country-
men : and that they might be witnelTes of the
kind treatment, which the Indians at Loretto
received from the fathers, but the defign to-
tally milcarried. The father landed, together
with the captain, foldiers, and Loretto Indians,
who firft leaped over-board and fwam afliore.
The Guaycuros, who lived in huts along the
fliore, at the fight of fuch a number of people,
haftily betook themfelves to flight, with tiieir
Ee 4 wives
424 HISTORYOF
■wives and children, the Loretto Indians, and hur-
ried on by that brutal impulfe, when it perceives
co'vardice in another, run after them among
the rocks and woods, without regarding the
orders of the father to flop. The Guaycuros
out-ran them, but they came up with their
wives, who finding the impoflibility of making
their efcape, turned about, and made a Ihort
defence with ftones. But the Loretto Indians
fell upon them wich favage barbarity -, and in
their fury, had infallibly deftroyed rhefe inno-
cent creatures, had not the captain and fome ot
the nimbleft of his foldiers come up to this in-
famous encounter, though it was with fome
diffi<.ulty our favages were nftrained from any
farther cruelties. But though the Guaycuri
women nnifl perceive the refentment both of
the captain and the foldiers, lor this favage u-
fage, they die not overcome their fears, for the
captain approaching them with an air of kind-
nefs, they immediately turned their backs, and
betook themfelves to a fecond flight. Father
Salva-Tierra was extremely concerned at this
adventure, but concealed his difpleafure. This
was, however, no time for bringing about a
peace, after this frelh infult on the natives,
in the perfons of their wives, nor would other
circumflances admit of any long flay at La
Paz, till the minds of the favages were quiet-
ed}
I
CALIFORNIA. 425
cd ; Co that all the father could do, was to make
the pri Toners fenfible that what had been done,
was entirely contrary to the will and intention
of himfelf and the Spaniards, the fole end of
whofe coming to being enter into connexions of
friendfhip. He diflributed little prefents among
them, and difmiffed them very affeflionately,
that they might prepare their countrymen to
accept of offers of peace on another occafion.
He now returned to Loretto, in the bilander,
and afterwards fent her to Matanchel for the
goods, in which paflage fhe was ftranded in a
(torm, the whole cargo loft, and nine perfons
drowned. The only vefTel now left them, was the
San Xavier, which had ferved eighteen years,
namely, from the commencement of the
miflion.
SECT. XI.
Father Salva-Tierra ellabli flies a fpiritual
and civil government for the miffiona-
ries of California, and of the Indians,
In the fame year 1716, amidft fo many difap-
pointments, father Salva-Tierra had the fatis-
fa(51:ion of feeing the feveral benefadlions to the
mifllons, already founded, fecured in the
manner he defired, and like wife a better form
of government ellablilhcd. This will give us
occafion
426 HISTORY OF
occafion to fpeak of that which the father in-
troduced inro Cahfornia. From the firft en-
trance into tliat country, the father faw the
abfolute neceflity of having an agent at Mexico,
for collecting the revenues of the rniflions
already founded, the contributions and fuccours
of the bencfadtors, for buying up the cloathing,
provifions, and other goods for fupplying the
fathers, foldiers, and mariners, employed in
the redutflion, together with the fervice of the
churches and the Indians ; and likewife that he
ihould folicit the affairs of the miTion, de-
pending before the royal audience and the vice-
roy, attend to the purchafe, building and repair-
ing of veffels, and manage all the temporal
concerns of this conqueil, fo remote, and ne-
cefTitous. During the firfl year, this was in an
exemplary manner difcharged by father Juan
Ugarte. He was fucceeded in his agency for
California, by father Alexandro Romano, with
a difpenfation at the remonftrance of father
Salva-Tierra, from any other fundion or
bufinefs, than the concerns of the mifTion,
both as it required an agent free from any
other incumbrance, and as the monies ap-
propriated to Californii could by no means be
mixed with thofe of the colleges and the prO'
vince ; nor be exchanged or employed to
any other end, than the intention of the be-
nefactors.
CALIFORNIA. 427
nefaftors. The father difcharged this office
with great zeal for feveral years, till in 17 19,
he was appointed provincial of New Spain : his
fucceflbr was father Jofeph Echevirria, who
held it eleven years •, when, in 1729, being
nominated vifitor of California, he was fuc-
ceeded by Hernan Francifco Tompez, who,
after acquitti.ig himfelf with a prudence and
adivity, greatly to the advantage of the miflion,
was removed by death, in May 1750. His
majefty's aflignment to the miffions of New
Spain, both thole ferved by the jefuits and
other orders, is three hundred dollars a year,
for the fupport of the miflionary and his una-
voidable expences with the Indians : an allow-
ance, which inEurope, for want of better informa-
tion may appear extravagant : whereas for Ameri-
it is very fcanty, efpecially with regard to the
remote mifllons, both on account of the fmall
value of filver, and the excefiive price of all
European goods -, but much more on account
of the difficulty, expence, and wafte of the
tranfportation of them, which cofts half the
the value, and fometimes the whole is loft:
For what muft the expences in a journey of
four or five hundred leagues through a country
for the greateft part defart, and for feveral
leagues together, covered with craggy moun-
tains and thick foreils, amount to ? and where
befides
428 HISTORY OF
befides there is an abfolute neceflity of carrying
all the provifions both for man and beaft ? The
cxpences in California, being much enhanced,
on account of the diftance, veflels, lofs of
goods, and barrennefs of the foil, even for
provifions, the allowance for each milTionary,
has been ftated at five hundred dollars per
annum : fo that they, whofe good difpofition
lead them to found a miflion, have endowed it
with a principal of ten thoufand dollars, the in-
tereft of which, at five per cent, furnifhes the
ftated fupport for the miffionary. All the mif-
fions of California, hitherto, owe their foun-
dation to private perfons, not one of them
being on the treafury eitablirhment : for though
his majefly ordered others to be founded on
his account, nothing has been done in confor-
mity to his commands.
The benefadlors and founders did not put
this money into the fociety's hands, but it re-
mained with them, the interefb being paid every
year, whilft the miflion was founding, till fa-
ther Juan Maria de Salva-Tierra being provin-
cial, and on a vifitation in California, he judged
that it would be better to lay out the capitals
in land, that thus they might not be expoled to
the hazards of commerce, as in the affair of
don Juan Baptifta Lopez, the founder of San
Juan de Ligui j who failing, all the capital of
that
CALIFORNIA, 429
that miffian was loil. Befides, as the mifliona-
ries of California were obliged to buy cattle
and corn in New Spain, they might fupply
themfelves much cheaper from the produfts
of their own lands. Accordingly he opened
his mind to father Ugarte, who approved and
commended the projed. On his return to
Mexico, that the affair might be confidered
with that precifion, which the fociety on all oc-
cafions obferves, he laid it before the provincial
confiftory. The defign met with great appro-
bation, efpecially from father Alexandro Ro-
mano, agent for California, and foon after
provincial.
Accordingly father Romano was commif-
fioned to colle(5t the funds, and purchafe farms,
and manage them for the account of the mif-
fion. Thus he fucceflively bought the farm
of Guadaloupe, in the valley of Acolman or
Oculna ; that of Huafteca for breeding fheep;.
that of Huapango, and that of Sarco. I-n-
thefe purchafes, were laid out all the capitals of
the feven mifllons already founded ; the five
thoufand dollars, left to California by the dukef
©f Abrantes and Linares ; four thoufand dol-
lars, the legacy of a gentleman of GuadalaxarEj
and a great part of the fmaller donations.
Nothing in this world is fo excellent, but it
may be Viewed in different lights, and thus
be
430 H I S T O R Y O F
be liable to exceptions, But this procedure feem-
ed to be dictated by prudence, regularity, and
religion. The miflionaries might have been
fent among the Indians, as fheep among
wolves, without fcrip or llafF. But whoever
admires the apoftles, in founding churches
after this manner, will not therefore condemn
them, for making colledions among the bre-
thren, nor the diftribution of fuflenance to
orphans and widows, which was the office of
the deacons. How can the miflionaries live on
the charities of the Indians, when almoft the
only means of bringing about their converfions,
is to fupport them at the miflions ?
Thus the agent at Mexico fuperintended the
management of thefe farms, and received their
products, and likewife the eighteen thoufand
dollars, affigned by the king for the payment
of the royal garrifon, and the men belonging
to the barks. Out of the produce of the farms,
every mifllonary is provided with apparel,
utenfils, provifions, medicines, mules, and
other neceffaries for himfelf and his Indians, to
the neat amount of his ftipend, which never
rifes to any thing confiderable, the charges and
lofles being regulated by a genuine average for
pref-rving harmony and equality, if there be
any furplus, it is employed in travelling ex-
pences, purchafing of vefTels, gratuities to. the
foldier§
CALIFORNIA. 431
foldlers and failors, preparations and charges of
new expeditions, and extraordinary fuccours for
the more fpecdy advancement of the miffions.
And if there be a deficiency in the necefTary
expences, it falls on the miflionaries. Philip
V. was pleafcd to order, that the miffions of
California, iliould, like the other miffions in
America, be fupplied at his expence, with every
thing neceflary for divine worffiip -, as bells,
images, ornaments, lamps, oil, and wine for
the mafles : yet this gracious order has never
been put in execution. Every thing has been
purchafed out of the allowances cf the miffiio-
naries, the contributions, or the effi;d:s of the
miffiion. The building, repair, whether or-
dinary and extraordinary, of the church, is
done at the charge of the miffiionary, who is
the parochial prieft of the Indians : but this is
not the only conveniency of the priefls of Ca-
lifornia : in all parts the labourer is worthy of
his hire, and he who ferves at the altar, may
be allowed to eat of things belonging to the
altar. Wherefore it feems jufl, that he who
fows the fpiritual feed, fhould reap fome tem-
poral advantages. On this account it was not
ftrange, that the new chriilians of California
fupported their priefts, and returned their ifffec-
tionate fervices, with fome temporal benefits.
Whereas, on the contrary, the priefls and
mif-
4^2 HISTORYOF
miflionarles, who are jefuits, are obliged not
only to maintain their churches, but even their
parifliioners.
At firft the fathers fubfifted all the Indians,
who came to fettle in villages, on condition
that they fhould no longer wander among the
woods and mountains, but be inftrufled in the
faith : and in thefe charities, great part of the
contributions of the benefadtors, has been ex-
pended. And after they were thus brought
together, it being impoflible to fubfift all, and
equally fo to make fields for fowing in many
parts, either from the nature of the foil, want
of water, or the innate indolence and floth of
the people, the following method was taken*
Firfl, the miltionaries fupported all the Indians,
who attended divine fervice. Every morning
and night, they have an allowance of Atole,
the name they give to their pottage, made of
rriaize, boiled and afterwards bruifed, mace-
rated in water, and put a fecond tirne over the
fire: at noon they are ferved with Pozoli, or
boiled maize, with frefii or fait meat, and
fruits or vegetables, according as the mifiion
is provided. In the fame manner the Indian
governor of the village, the fick, the aged,
and the children of all the rancherias, male and
female, from fix to twelve years, are provided
with food. Befides this, every week the fame
allowance
CALIFORNIA. 433
allowance is given to all the Indians of two ran-
cherias, male and female, in confideration that
they all come in their order, two by two, to the
head village of the mifT.on, in order to renew
their inftrudions. Laftly, every Sunday, all
who attend divine fervice have a portion of
viduals, and in pafiion week, the like is fent to
all the rancherias.
The miffionary priefl: likewife cloathes all his
parifliioners with ferges, bays, and palmillas, a
IbrtofcoinTe cloth v/oven in Old Spain : healfo
provides them with cloaks and blankets, which
he procures from Mexico on his flipend. Thofc
who can work are intruded by the fathers in
the management of the fields, and watering the
ground j the produfl: of which, is entirely for
their own advantage ; and the confequence is,
that they gather it, and im. mediately wafte the
whole, unlefs the fathers take care to fave it
up, in order to make a proper diftribution, or
to fend relief to another miffion in neceflity.
Wine is the only producft withheld from them,
and this in order to prevent drunkenncfs ; ahd
it is for this reafon, that though the vintages
are but inconfiderable, fome quantities of it,
there being but few confumers in California,
have been exported to New Spain, in exchange
for other commodities. What wine the father
has is chiefly given to the fick, whom he
Vol. I, F f likewife
434 HISTORYOF
likewife fupplies with medicines ; fo that a mlf-
fionary and prieft of California, is not only
charged with the care of their fouls, butlikewife
with all the feveral duties of a father of a family ;
together with the feveral mechanical occupa-
tions from a labourer to a cook. He is like-
wife a tutor, apothecary, furgeon and phyfician
to all : and this without the lead profit, ad-
vantage, or reward, fpending his own fubfl:ance»
abridging himfelf of conveniencies, even necef-
faries, to fupply their wants.
Such was the government eflabliflied by
father Salva-Tierra, relating to the temporal
provifion of California, and it is obferved to
this day. The civil government introduced by
the fame father at Loretto, and partly by his
example and diredlion in the other miffionaries,
con fills chiefly in the following articles : that in
every milTion newly founded, the father is at-
tended by a foldier, who within certain bounds
bas the power of the captain of the garrifon.
When the father has afTcfmbled any rancherias,
he appoints the perfon, whom he thinks moft
proper, as governor of the village : another
Indian to take care of the church, and out of
each rancheria, a perfon of the moft promifing
morals, and particularly inftrufted, is ap-
pointed cacechift. The governor's office is to
keep peace and good order ; and if any thing
happens
CALIFORNIA. 435
happens that he cannot remedy, he is to ac-
quaint the father and foldier with it. The
church-warden is to take care of the church and
keep it clean •, he is alfo to take notice of thofe
that fail coming to mafs, and other exercifes of
devotion ; thofe that do not behave with pro-
per refpect ; and thofe who either return to
their former fuperflitions, or betray any ill will
againft the fathers, or difguft at the inftruflions.
Tlie catechift of the rancheria fummons them
every morning before they go to the woods to
repeat their prayers and catechifm : and if any
thing deferving animadverfion happens in the
rancheria, he acquaints the father of it.
During the abfence of the father, either to
vifit villages and rancherias, attend the fick,
or terminate quarrels, the foldier ads as his
vicegerent, and has an eye to every thing. He
is at the father's order to go wherever it is ne-
ceflliry ; he can feize delinquents, and mildly
punifh them, unlefs in capital cafes, when he is
to lay the cafe before the captain of the garrifbn,
who is invefted with the juridical power. Lefler
faults are puniflied with whipping, and the
greater with imprifonment or the flocks. To-
wards introducing the punifhment of whipping
pradifed in other provinces on the Indians, fa-
ther Salva-Tierra made ufe of the method pro-
poled by the captain of the garrifon, there be-
Ff 2 * ing
436 H I S T O R Y O F
inginthe beginning great numbers of pilferers,
that an example became neceflafy, the captain
furprifed one of thefe with the booty in his
hands. On this all the Indians being called to-
gether, the boy was charged with the theft
before them, and the turpitude of his crime ex-
pofed in the backeft colours. The captain had
fentenced him to a very fevere punifhment, and
all agreed that he deferved it as a warning to
the reft. Then father Salva-Tierra interceded
that it might be changed into a whipping-,
this was complied with, and he fuffered only a
few laflies. Thus the punifhment was intro-
duced, which however it may in Europe caufe
diforders, is otherwife in America, by reafon
of the temper of the Indians, to whom greater
rigour and ftriclnefs would be unfupportable ;
and this is executed by their countrymen and
companions. As to the fpiritual government,
befides what we have faid in fpeaking of the
foundations of fome mifllons, in general it is
uniform in all : the firft care is of the children,
as the whole depends on their education. Some
from all the mifTions are brought up at Loretto,
which has a reading, writing, and finging
fchoo!, with proper mafters who come from the
oppofite coaft. They become gradually po-
liflied by converfition ; they are taught the
Spanifh, and afterwards are promoted to be
church-
CALIFORNIA. 437
church-wardens or catechols in their rancherias,
where they are greatly refpedted. At the head
villages every morning, the ohurch-warden al-
fembles all the inhabitants in the church, whi-
ther the rancherias come by turns, and there
the Te Deum is fiing. This is followed by the
mafs, and afterwards by the catechifm, which
is tranflated into their languages : and feveral
times a week, the whole concludes with an ex-
plication, or fermon; inftrud:ingand animating
them in every part of the chriftian life. The
adult chriftians then undertake fome employ-
ment, or go among the woods in queft of fulle-
nance. At night they all meet again in the
church, and perform their devotions. Every
Sunday they walk in proceflion round the vil-
lage finging ; they then return to the church,
where a fermon is preached to them. The like
is done at Loretto eve-ry Saturday, in Spanifh,
for the garrifon.
SECT.
438 H I S T O R Y O F
SECT. XII.
Account of the Goverment eftabllflied by
father Salva-Tierra, in the royal garri-
fon, and among the foldiers, vefTels, and
feamen, belonging to California; as like-
wife of that eftabiidied by his advice in
pearl Jfifliery.
In order to give at once a complete idea of
the government of California, in all its bran-
ches, it will be proper to fubjoin that which
father Salva-Tierra procured to be eftablifhed
in the royal garrifon and fhipping, as the go-
vernment to this day, continues on the fame
footing. The judicious reader, will, doubt-
lefs, be pleafed with the reafons for erefling
thefe garrifons among the lavage Indians, for
the protection of the miffionaries and preachers
of the gofpel, againft infults : and likewife,
with an apology for that prudent and falutary
meafure, in oppofition to thofe who are loud
in their complaints, that the garrifon and
military efcorts, with which the miflionaries
take care to be guarded, deflroy that freedom,
with which the chriftian religion fhould be re-
ceived. This is a point which concerns not
only California, but likewife many other pro-
vinces of America, where the gofpel is preached
under
CALIFORNIA. 439
under the protection of the garrifons. It is a
point, which for many years has been delibe-
rated upon, by order of the kings of Spain,
and after the moll impartial and mature exa-
mination, this method has been eflabliOied
as the bed, or even the only one, by which
the redu6lion and converfion of the Americans
might be accomplifhed. They who will not
admit as a reafon the example of innumerable
religions, of feveral orders, who having under-
taken to go alone, without any guard, to
preach among the favage Indians, have only
obtained the crown of martyrdom by their
hands, leaving them at the fame time under
greater blindnefs and infolence : Such, I fay,
may in F. Acofta's excellent work, De procu-
randa Indorum Salute, fee the reafons for this
meafure, which is no contrivance, or inftitu-
tion of the jefuits, but of the kings of Spain,
with the repeated advice of their fupreme
council : it will foon be feen how in California
itfelf, the want of a garrifon, which the jefuits
had frequently folicited, was very near proving
the ruin in a few days of all the chriflian com-
munities, formed with immenfe labour and ex-
pence, in the courfe of forty years. It is fuf-
ficient at prefent, to fay that no one is com-
pelled by force to receive the faith ; that all
who are baptifed, defire it not only freely, and
F f 4 without
440 H I S T O R Y O F
without the leafl compulfion, but all poflible
aflurances are given of the fincerity and per-
feverance of the fubjecl. The garrifon and
foldiers check the infults of the favagcs ; but if
the orders and intentions of his majefty, and
the Spanifli government be compUed with, they
never offer them the lead injury, never fo much
as purfuing them unlefs provoked : the chief
end of their fervice is no more than as a juft
and prudent fafeguard for the lives of the
miffionaries.
Garrifons being thus neceflary for the reduc-
tion of California, father Salva-Tierra efta-
bliflied them from the beginning, but of what
little force we have feen : afterwards the num-
ber of foldiers was increafed or diminiHied, ac-
cording to the amount of the contributions,
and the poflibility of paying and fubfifling
them. When father Piccolo had procured the
effedual payment of the fix thoufand dollars
allowed by his majefty Philip V. the number
of foldiers became more fettled : yet this could
not caufe any great augmentation, as every
foldier in the garrifons of New Bifcay, Sonora,
and Cinaloa, received from the king three hun-
dred, and the captain five hundred dollars. But
the foldiers of California, as their expence was
greater, were not contented with this pay.
BcTides, the pay of the failors, belonging to
the
CALIFORNIA. 441
the barks, was alfo extravagant : but at lafl,
both, not only conformed to the pny allowed by
the king, as we Ihall (hew, but the number of
them has been increafed, as ablolutely nccefTary,
and paid out of the funds of the miflion. Fa-
ther Salva-Tierra*s firil care, was to folicit lor
the garrifon, a legal jurifdidllon to be lodged
in its captain, as an inftrument of the regal
power. This he obtained, by means of the
count of Galvez, viceroy : and in the warrant
for this purpofe, were granted to him, all other
licences and privileges neceilary for an efta-
blifliment in California, and fpecifying the
refpe6tive appointments for the father, the cap-
tain, and foldiers, with the privileges to which
they were intitled. And though the execution
of this was oppofed at Mexico, yet his majefly
was pleafed to confirm the feveral articles in
the fchedule, already mentioned of the 28th
of September, direcfling that no alteration
Ihould be made in the government of Califor-
nia, as fettled at the beginning. Of thefe ap-
pointments, privileges, and favours, fome were
nominated for the father, others for the foldiers
in common, others for the captain, or the
enfign his fubllitute. The viceroy granted to
the father, a licence for carrying foldiers to. Cali-
fornia, andmaintainingthem athisownexpence;
and though at prefent the king pays the fol-
diers,
442 HISTORYOF
diers, this privilege has not been repealed, of
appointing a captain or commander, that is,
a perfon of courage, prudence, experience, and
religion, but he muft be confirmed by the
viceroy, of inlifting and difcharging foldiers j
and laftly, the captain or foldiers were to be
under his orders, in progrefles, efcortes, and
other occafions, which are not immediately
military, thefs being under the captain's dir
reftion : the foldiers were to enjoy all the
rights and privileges of the officers, and fol-
diers of the king's army ; their fervice was to
be accounted as in time of war, and on the
frontiers, their pay to be on the fame footing
with thofc of Sonora, Cinaloa, and New Bifcay j
and that the certificates which they Ihould
bring, figned by the captain and the father,
ftiould be admitted as authentick, in order to
entitle them to thofe immunities, v/hich they
had acquired by their fervice ; the captain of
the garrifon, was appointed judge and chief
jufticiary of all the country of California; of
the foldiers in every cafe, whether military or
civil ; of the feamen, fervants, and fettlers,
and of the Indians : to hear and determine all
caufes, and execute his fentences. He was
likewife nominated captain general, not only
within the country, but of the fea and coaft
of California : on which account, the principal
veiTei
CALIFORNIA. 443
vefTel of the garrifon, fhould be called the ca-
pitana, and carry a fuitable enfign, and hoift
it at coming into any harbour, unlel's at Aca-
pulco, when the Philippine fhip fliould happen
to be there. Laftly, he was invefted with the
fuperintendency over the pearl filhery, as fhall
be related in the fequel.
The military government of the garrifon
is the fame as that of the other frontier gar-
rifons : and the captain is to take care that it
be ftriclly obferved, to punidi delinquents, and
if neceflary, cafhier them : though even in
this cafe, if the fault be not very great, the
man difcharged is indulged with a certificate : no
out-laws are capable of being admitted foldiers :
and though in the difficulties of the firft year,
the treafurer Miranda, propofed to father
Salva-Tierra, the fending to him fuch perfons,
as fhould be baniflied by the audience to ferve
without pay •, the f\uher declined the offer, as
they would do more harm than good, with, re-
gard to the moral improvement of the new com-
mencements ; mod of the foldiers are always
on duty within the garrifon : the others are
employed in efcorting the fathers, fometimes
in progreffes up the country, fometimes in the
new fettlement. In every milTion there is con-
ftantly a foldier for an cfcorte ; for though this
has been defired to be difpenfcd with, when
under
444 HISTORYOF
under no apprehenfions from the Indians, no
way has hitherto been found for it. No Indian
fervants of the other Cvr.il are admitted into
the mifTion, this being attended with very
great inconveniencies. The father is often
obhged to go from the head village, to vifit
others and the rancherias, befides, he is every
hour liable to be called to the Tick in different
parts. One particular in this government,
which may feem ftrange to fome people, is,
that the captain and foldiers are under the fa-
ther J and this has given fuch difpleafure to
fome of his majefly's minifters, that in their
zeal for the honour of the fword, they have
even formally remonftrated againft it to his
majefly. Many other perfons have, and ftill
do exprefs great indignation at it : fome, I
-am willing to believe, from a good intention ;
but the generality are carried away by that fpi-
rit of contradiiftion which has ever attended the
fociety in all its proceedings from its com-
mencement J and which it muft expect, whilft
it a6ls up to its obligations, in purfuit of the
great end of its inftitution : the cafhiered
foldiers alfo have frequently furniflied New
Spain with ftories and complaints againft the
fathers -, they have eafily met with ears open
to their calumnies ; and have even been abetted
in them ; and fometimes wich affurances that
thciv
CALIFORNIA. 445
their pretended wrongs flioiild be redrefTed.
Father Salva-Tierra was not ignorant of the
reports fpread againfl: the fociety, and efpecially
ao-ainft himlelf.
Thefe reports were ftrengthened by the cla*
mours of a captain and fcveral foldiers, who
in thofe years returned full of rancour againft
the father. It was further well known, that the
coaft of California abounded in pearl beds :
and to think that the fathers did not make ufe
of their Indians, and even of the Spaniards of
the garrifon, whom they paid for fijdiing for
them, was, in the opinion of the minifters,
paying a very high compliment to the fathers.
On the other hand, none of thefe pearls came
into the hands of private perfons at Mexico,
as they expe<5led, nor was the king paid his
fifths. What could be thought, but that they
were concealed, to the detriment of the royal
revenue, and violation of publick faith ? Where
was the advantage and decency that the kino-
fhould put his troops under a fcandalous fub-
jediion to religious, pay falaries, furnifli vefTels,
and expend large fums, for the fupply and
protedion of the defrauders of his revenue,
only for the thread- bare pretence of devotion
and religion ? Would it be juft to drain the
treafury, only to gratify the ambition of the
jefuits ? All this, and many more invccftives,
equally
446 H I S T O R Y O F
equally well grounded, were known to father
Salva-Tierra. He faw alfo how much himfelf
and the fathers were confidered for their care of
the temporal concerns of California j and likewife
the mifunderftandings, in which they were
frequently involved with the foldiers and ma-
riners. But having, befides his natural fagacity,
a long experience of thofe countries, he was
perfeftly acquainted with the climate, foil, and
temper of the inhabitants : and knew from the
beginning, that the enterprife of the reduction
of California, was not to be meafured by the
rules, which obtained in the European coun-
tries, and even in America itfelf. It was clear
to him that all endeavours, labour, and expence
would be lofl, unlefs the captain and the gar-
rifon were at his command ; and that without
taking this temporal command, though fo
difagreeable and expenfive, there would be no
pofTibility of accomplifhing the fpiritual con-
quell. Of this he was fo convinced, that till
he had fettled this point, he did not enter on
his work. The weighty reafons, on which he
proceeded, are partly mentioned in the memoir,
inferted above (2) and partly deducible from
what we have faid relating to the province of
Sonora. (3)
(2) Part III. feft. VIII. (3) Part III. feft. V.
The
CALIFORNIA. 447
The captain of the garrifon, being llkewife
captain of the fea and coaft of California has
complete jurifdic^lion over all the vefiels and
and feamen belonging to them : with the fame
fubordination to the fathers. The veflels pro-
perly belonging to California, are generally a
large bark, for bringing the accounts and pay-
ments from Acapulco, Matanchel, or other
diftant ports, and a fmaller for the conveyance
of provifions and neceffaries, from the coafts
Sonora and the adjacent parts. Both veflels to be
built and maintained, together with their crews,
at the king's expence : but of fixteen vefTels,
large and fmall, which, till the year 1 740, be-
longed to California, no more than twelve were
built or purchafed at the expence of the mif-
fion. It muft be owned, that ever fmce the
viceroylhip of the marquis de Cafa Fucrte,
the vefTcls have every two years failed to Aca-
pulco, and there careened at the expence of
the revenue. It has very often happened that
there has been only one veflel at California,
to its extreme danger and diftrefs. Ip
was owing to this want of barks, that the dif-
coveries in the gulf have not been made : for
even the very laft was performed in boats along
the fhore, and with what danger, will be feeii
in his journal. And for the fame reafoa
the other furveys on the weftern coaft on the
5 South*
44S H I S T O R Y O F
South-fea, were intimated, as much more
difHcult and expenfive ; though thefe have been
enjoined by warrants from his majefly. The
fuperiority of the captain over the barks, is no
lefs efTential to the maintenance and good so-
Ycrnment of Cahfornia, than that naturally
annexed to his poll over the foldiers of the
garrifon : and his fubordination to the fathers
in this article, is even more neceffary than ia
the concerns of the country. The principal
reafon, exclufive of others, is fhewn by father
Salva-Tierra in his memoir. The foldiers
are very defirous of fifhing for pearls along
the coafl. But the mariners are flill more defi-
rous, as they fee fome of their acquaintance on
the coaft of New Galicia and Cinaloa, fud-
denly enriched by this fifliery •, fo that had not
the captain of the garrifon the command of
the barks, it is natural to conclude that they
would be more frequently employed in the
fervice of the miffions : fo that there could be
no relying upon them, for the neceffary fup-
plies :• and were the captain and foldiers inde-
pendent of the jefuits, they would be the firft
to fet the example of diving for pearls : and
inftead of guarding the part ot the country
already reduced, efcorting the fathers in their
progreffes, and affifting the miffion in other
parts of their duty, they would force the barks
and
CALIFORNIA. 449
and the Indians for the more fpeedy gratifi-
cation of tlieir avarice. Hence oppreiTions of
the Indians ; and immediate conlequence of
thefe would be complaints, refcntments, defpalr,
plots, a general infurrediion •, and after all the
expcnces and labours, the total lofs of the
conquefl. If any thing happens otherwife, it
is owing to their want of information.
Thus it was neceflary, that both in civil and
mihtary cafes, the veffels belonging to Cali-
fornia fliould be fubjecl to the captain of the
garrifon j and that both fliuuld be under the
diredlion of the fathers. But the entire jurif-
didiion over all vefTels, failing on the gulf,
was, by the government of Mexico, conferred
on the captain. The entrance of the jefuits
into California, and the relloration of a good
harmony along its coaft, from the bay de la
Paz to Conception, gave occafion a fecond
time to the fi filing and trading for pearls, with-
out the ufual oppofition from the Indian inha-
bitants. The infulars of St. Jofeph, and the
Guaycuri and Coras, from La Pas to cape
San Lucas, alone ofi^ered to molefl the
divers, who had formerly fuffered too much
from them, to venture coming near their Ihore.
The inhabitants of the coaft of New Galicia
and Cinaloa, who before, ufcd but feldom,
and then in fmall barks with great danger, to
Vol. I. G g go
450 HISTORY OF
go and fifli for pearls, began to build larger
barks : and in them, without any apprehenfion,
to fail to the oppofire coad, to trade for
pearls, but much more to fifh for them •, em-
ploying the Californians who lived along the
fhore, and generally by compulfion, though
they never made them any allowance. The
foldiers and feamen of the garrifon were feveral
times urgent with father Salva-Tierra, that
they might be allowed to dive •, but the father,
in order to put a flop to the evil, abfolutely
refufed to grant the leafl privilege of that
kind.
This caufed great difcontent among them,
many demanded their difcharge, and all com-
plained. The father, however, continued
unlhaken in his intention, on no account to
admit them to dive for pearls.
He was confirmed in this opinion, by a
particular incident. He had fcnt a bark to the
neic^hbouring illand of Carmen, which made a
longer (lay than the fervice required. The fa-
ther fufpedled that they fpent their time in di-
ving, and he afterwards had private intelligence
that his fiifpicions were well founded. The
father was highly difpleafed at it, but the gar-
rifon being very thin, on account of the many
difcharges for the fame oifence, he deliberated
with himfelf, whether he fhould likewife dif-
charge
3
* C A L I F O R N I A. 451
charge all offenders, and remain in California
alone. At lad, he determined to difcharge
them, relying on providence, for a frefli rein-
forcement of men j in which he was not difap-
pointed.
Towards the end of the year 1702, two
barks committed fuch diforders, that the cap-
tain was obliged to march with fome of his
foldiers, in defence of the Indians. Having
parted the fray, he demanded from the men in
the bark, to produce the viceroy's licence for
diving : and their anfwer was for him to pro-
duce the warrant by which he afted as judge
and fuperior. But not having any particular
warrant, the affair went no farther. The cap-
tain, on his arrival at Loretto, fent the viceroy
an account of this quarrel, and many other
violences committed on the Indians, the dan-
ger of a general difcontent and revolt ; and
defiring inflruftions how to behave on fimilar
occafions. This letter was read in the royal
council of Mexico, on the i8th of January
1703 ; and being referred to the treafurer, his
opinion was, that circular orders (hould be fent
for prohibiting the fifliing for pearls, till an
account fhould be laid before his majefty -, that
enquiry Ihould be made after all who had pre-
fumed to dive without licence, in order to
)aring them to punifliment, according to the
G g 2 new
452 HISTORY O F
new inftitutes by which it was prohibited : and
to prevent all diforders for the future, a war-
rant fhould be fent to the captain of CaUfornia,
impovv'ering him to flop all vefTels which came
to fifh for pearls.
But the afiembly, on the 27th of the fame
month, and in the fame year, refolved, that the
fifhery Ihould not be prohibited to any, having
the viceroy's licence. That the warrant pro-
pofed by the fifcal, fhould be fent to the cap-
tain of the royal garrifon of California : and
laftly that the fathers Salva-Tierra and Piccolo,
fhould be defired to acquaint the affembly,
whether this g-rant would be attended with in-
conveniences : for as to the violences commit-
ted on the Indians, they might be prevented
by vigilance, or fupprelTed by proper fcverities ;
and therefore it was by no means proper to in-
terdid a publick advantage for fear of an evil,
where the remedy was fo eafy.
Accordingly the orders correfpondent to this
decree, were fent to California, where the cap-
tain was now invefted with a full power for
fupprefnng all clandeftine and illicit diving -,
and likewiie for hinidering any injuries to be
done to the Indians. Father Piccolo being
abfent, father Salva-Tierra fent his particular
anfvver to the viceroy in a lette.r dated at Lo-
retto 17043 tlic original of which, written' ia
his
CALIFORNIA. 453
his own hand, is among the records in the fcr
crctary's office of Mexico : the fubftance of it
is, that to permit the inhabitants of the other
coaft, from diving for pearls, is, on many ac-
counts, proper and juft : and among other
advantages, the increafe of the royal revenue
in the fifths ; the encouragement of navigation,
and the building of veffels in the gulf and
neighbouring feas, where every veflel was ai
kind of garrifon ; the fuppreffion of pirates,
the greater readinefs and fafety of tranfporting
provifions in a timeof fcarcity, the training up
great numbers to the fea : and laftly, that it
v/as reafonable California fhould make fomc
returns to the crown for the benefits it received.
But at the fame time, it was by no means pro-
per, that either the feamen belonging to the
barks, or the captain and foldiers of California,
Jhould be allowed to fifli for pearls, much lefs
to be preferred; as this would be followed by
the greateft inconveniencies. He concluded
with faying, that little could be expe6led from
the foldiery, either as to the defence of the
country, efcortes in progrefTes or wars, if they
were allowed to dive for pearls. Such was
father Salva-Tierra's anfwer ; and it confirmed
the junto in their former refolutions ; and the
viceroy took the bed meafures againft any il-
Jegal diving, as alio againft defrauding the
revenue
454 H 1 S T O R Y O F
revenue of the fifth due to the king. It is
certain, that the fifth of every diving bark was
yearly farmed for twelve thoufand dollars (7) \
an article which alone proves, that the value of
California is more advantageous, and might
be greatly augmented.
Such was the government then eftabhlhed in
the pearl fifliery of California, on the opinion
of father Salva-Tierra, and this he maintained
during his whole life ; as on the part of the
jefuits, the garrifon of Loretto, and the barks
belonging to it, ftill continue to this day. It
fe true, that this meafure extremely irritated
the foldiers, much more than the feamen, and
even than any of the divers of New Spain : and
they have all joined in filling the new world
with calumnies againft the fathers. No fooner
were the viceroy's orders, concerning the pearl
fifhety, and the power invefted in the captain
6f California known, than the divers ofthatcoaft,
whofe illicit praftices were now checked, filled
all places with their complaints : but among all
thefe, the moft remarkable was that made
by the foldiers, that the conqueft being the
fruits of their valour and fatigue, they were
not allov/ed the enjoyment of the only valuable
thing in the country, the pearl fifhery ; when
it was open to every one from the other coaft,
f 7) See paft in. fea. XXL
' ' That
CALIFORNIA. 455
That it was a great hardfhip on thofe, who, by
prodigious labour, had reduced the country to
a ftate of peace, to be denied the privilege of
gathering the fruits of it ; that the fathers
taking up with the fantaftical conquefl, neither
employed the Indians to fifh, nor allowed them
to dive : and the only privilege they had, was
to trade for pearls, and this under rellridions
and conditions unreafonably favourable to the
Indians, and confequently diHidvantageous to
them.
This was the complaint of the foldiers and
feamen, who were actually, or pretended to be,
- cafhiered. But as juftice fhould be done to all,
it mufl be owned, that there have been and ftill
are fome foldiers in California, who proved of
great advantage to the fathers, particularly the
old captain don Eftevan Rodrigues Lorenzo,
whofe good condud: can never be too highly
commended. But on the other hand, the fa-
thers have found themfelves under a neceflity
of enlifting as foldiers, men who were the
refufe of the world, few others caring to go to
fo diftant a place. This always rendered the
garrifon and the velTels, very troublefome to the
mifiion. If thefe difficulties fubfifl:, when the
foldiers are under the diredion of the fathers,
what would become of the miffions, if they
were all independent ?
End of the Fir-5t Volume.
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